Neurocognitive differences between pedophilic and nonpedophilic child molesters

Abstract

Although some evidence exists that child molesters may be characterized by structural and functional brain abnormalities, findings across studies are inconsistent. Past cognitive research in this area has been extensively criticized for relying on conceptually weak batteries, measures of questionable reliability, and poorly defined samples (i.e., failing to distinguish between pedophilic and nonpedophilic child molesters). The present study aimed to address the weaknesses of past research by comparing 40 child molesters (20 pedophilic and 20 nonpedophilic) and 20 demographically matched nonoffender controls on six well-defined neurocognitive composite scores of comparable reliability (i.e., semantic knowledge, executive functioning, processing speed, motor speed, auditory memory, and visual memory). Results indicated that pedophilic child molesters exhibit slower processing speed, nonpedophilic child molesters exhibit poorer semantic knowledge, and both molester groups exhibit executive weaknesses as compared to nonoffender controls. This study is the first to compare the two molester types on neurocognitive functions. The observed differences between the molester groups help explain inconsistencies in past research and demonstrate the need to distinguish between the two types of child molesters when studying neurobiologic underpinnings of sexual offending.

Response Inhibition in Pedophilia: An fMRI Pilot Study

“…The notion that pedophilia is related to frontal dysfunction has moreover been challenged by studies in which pedophilic subjects displayed a slower processing speed but no increased error rate. These results would be in accordance with a more deliberate response style and greater self-monitoring [15,16], and they would better correspond to findings from clinical work showing that pedophilic subjects often abuse children repeatedly over a period of many years without arousing anybody's suspicion and that they often entangle their victims gradually into abuse. This behavioral pattern would rather indicate a deliberate than an impulsive modus operandi.…”

“…From other studies on executive functions in pedophilia we know that pedophilic subjects showed a slower processing speed in combination with similar error rates in executive tasks [15,16]. The authors of these studies concluded that pedophilic subjects display a more deliberate response pattern, which these authors related to stronger self-monitoring.…”

“…Even more to the point, one has to keep in mind that especially older studies on child abuse did not differentiate between nonpedophilic and pedophilic child molesters. The importance of this distinction has recently been stressed by various leading authors in the field [13,14] and is supported by studies that demonstrated better executive functions in pedophilic than in nonpedophilic child molesters [10,15,16]. The notion that pedophilia is related to frontal dysfunction has moreover been challenged by studies in which pedophilic subjects displayed a slower processing speed but no increased error rate.…”

“…This behavioral pattern would rather indicate a deliberate than an impulsive modus operandi. Thus, Eastvold et al [15] and Suchy et al [16] prompted the critical question to which extent some of the behavioral findings (e.g. slower processing speed) were rather related to an alteration in cognitive style than to a neurological disturbance like e.g.…”

Executive Function Profiles of Pedophilic and Nonpedophilic Child Molesters

“…Again, while some of these studies suggest somewhat generalized dysfunction, reflected in lower overall IQ (Cantor, Blanchard, Robichaud, & Christensen, 2005), poorer academic functioning , and slower processing speed (Suchy, Whittaker, Strassberg, & Eastvold, 2009b), others suggest more focal cognitive problems. These latter studies Correspondence and reprint requests to: Angela Eastvold, PhD, James Haley Veteran's Administration, Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences, 116B, 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612.…”