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

Abstract

Thirty-four civilly committed male sex offenders against children (SOs) chose from a list of traits to describe self, mother, father, best friend, past lover, victim and therapist. Cluster analysis (INDCLAS) uncovered five patterns (i.e. schemas) in SOs' social perception data: ''sexual lover'' (past lover described as sexual, arousing, etc.