Incarcerated Child Molesters' Perceptions of Themselves and Others

Abstract

A study was conducted to replicate and to expand some of our earlier findings concerning child molesters' perceptions of themselves, children, and adults. Sixty-eight men incarcerated in the Ontario correctional system for sexual offenses against children and 70 men with "person-related" but nonsexual offenses participated in the research. In accord with previous results, differences between molesters and nonmolesters in terms of their actual and ideal self-descriptions on the semantic differential were found. Molesters described themselves in less positive sexual terms than did nonmolesters. Women were seen by molesters more negatively with respect to sexual and physical characteristics than by nonmolesters, although, somewhat paradoxically, molesters described women as more trusting and mature than nonmolesters did. Molesters also reported a more positive view of women on the Attitudes Toward Women Scale than comparison participants. Molesters and nonmolesters also differed in terms of their responses to the Criminal Sentiments Scale, with child molesters reporting a more favorable view of the police, courts, and legal process than comparison participants. A similar finding was revealed in ratings of authority figures: Child molesters described authorities as kinder and less repulsive, deceitful, and unpleasant than comparison participants. All scales employed revealed a moderate to high temporal consistency. Some clinical implications and applications of the work are discussed briefly.

Distorted Attitudes and Perceptions, and Their Relationship With Self-Esteem and Coping in Child Molesters

“…In a series of studies, Horley ( 1988, 2000Horley & Quinsey, 1994Horley, Quinsey, & Jones, 1997) found somewhat equivocal results. His findings suggest that some child molesters hold inappropriate views of children and women, and this matches results reported earlier by Howells (1979).…”

Perception of self and others in male sex offenders against children: Schema content and its relation to criminal sexual behaviour

“…For example, Farris, Treat, Viken and McFall (2008; see also Treat, McFall, Viken & Kruschke, 2001) found that men at high (versus low) risk for perpetrating sexual aggression were less sensitive to women's affective expressions and more likely to associate provocative clothing with women's sexual interest. Horley, Quinsey and Jones (1997) found that child molesters viewed themselves more negatively, but perceived women, police and the court system more favourably than a comparison group of non-molesters. Other research has examined reports of offenders' experiences in early attachment relationships (Hazelwood & Warren, 1989;McCormack, Hudson & Ward, 2002;Tingle, Barnard, Robbins, Newman & Hutchinson, 1986) and intimate relationships (Ward, Hudson & McCormack, 1997).…”

The Identification and Diagnosis of Alleged Victims and Alleged Paedophiles (What to Dos and What to Avoid Doing)

“…They feel unhappy and fearful at the prospect of sexual behaviour with adults and hence tum to children due to the fact that they are unable to have the strength of personality to seek adults for sexual demeanour. When considering treatment, therefore, it is important to establish and develop a higher sense of self-esteem in such individuals (reference sources: Fisher et al, 1999;Marshall et al, I997a, b;Horley et al, 1997;Pallone & Voelbel, 1998;Pollock, 1996). 3.…”