Intimacy Deficits, Fear of Intimacy, and Loneliness among Sexual Offenders

Abstract

Intimacy deficits and loneliness recently have been theorized as influential factors in the etiology and maintenance of sexually offending behaviors, although to date there has been a lack of empirical research conducted to address this proposition. The present study examined intimacy deficits, fear of intimacy, and loneliness among intrafamilial child molesters, rapists, nonsexually offending inmates, and a community sample of adult males. The child molesters and rapists reported greater overall intimacy deficits than did the nonsexually offending inmates and community controls, with rapists reporting the greatest intimacy deficits. Fear of intimacy was found to be a particularly salient characteristic of the child molesters. The child molesters and rapists reported experiencing more overall loneliness and emotional loneliness. It is suggested that intimacy deficits, fear of intimacy, and loneliness should be addressed in comprehensive theories of sexual offending and incorporated into assessment and treatment approaches.

Attachment Styles and Psychological Profiles of Child Sex Offenders in Ireland

“…The results of the present study are also consistent with findings previous studies on loneliness in sex offenders (e.g. Bumby & Hansen, 1997;Bumby & Marshall, 1994;Garlick, Marshall, & Thornton, 1996;Marshall, 1989;Seidman, Marshall, Hudson & Robertson, 1994). …”

The big 5 dimensional personality approach to understanding sex offenders

“…Marshall, Anderson and Champagne (1997) suggest that selfconfidence and self-esteem is critical in achieving satisfactory intimacy, and that intimacy skills should be improved if sex offenders are to reduce their loneliness and meet their needs through adult relationships. A study by Bumby and Hansen (1997) indicated that rapists and intrafamilial child molesters had greater overall intimacy deficits compared with non-sexually offending inmates and community controls. Rapists had higher overall intimacy deficits, while the child molesters had the highest level of fear of intimacy.…”

Sexual Offenders’ State-of-Mind Regarding Childhood Attachment: A Controlled Investigation

“…This was not expected given the previous links made between incest offenders' reports of offending out of a felt need for intimacy and their greater fear of intimacy and rejection (Bumby & Hansen, 1997), all of which are features of a Preoccupied style of attachment. These findings may be explained in the context of Marshall's (1989) description of sexual offenders who appear to have had social contacts and seemingly effective marriages, while actually reporting that these relationships were superficial.…”

“…Conversely rapists, like dismissively attached individuals, tend to be more hostile in their interactions with others (Knight & Prentky, 1990), have greater intimacy deficits (Bumby & Hansen, 1997), and are more devaluing of intimacy . The features associated with a Dismissing internal working model include the view that others are untrustworthy, uncaring and unresponsive.…”