The predictive value of the triad for sex offenders

Prentky, Robert A.; Carter, L B S Daniel

doi:10.1002/bsl.2370020309

Cited by 19 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Wax and Haddox (1974) also reported that 13% of their sample demonstrated behaviors consistent with the triad. In contrast, Prentky and Carter (1984) only found the full triad to be present in four of the cases examined, contributing to 2% of the total sample. Based on this, if there were any predictive value in the triad, the power achieved by the current sample size would not have been sufficient to draw any firm conclusions.…”

Section: The Macdonald Triad 12mentioning

confidence: 75%

“…Following this, a number of researchers also published findings which contradict the triad's predictive link to future violence. One such study examined the predictive value of the triad in a sample of 206 sexual offenders enrolled on sex offender treatment programs in Massachusetts, USA (Prentky & Carter, 1984). The authors found no compelling evidence to support the predictive value of the triad of behaviors for predicting adult violence.…”

Section: The Macdonald Triad: Evaluating the Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Discrepancies within the literature also make it difficult to draw any firm conclusions; however, these inconsistencies should not discount the potential predictive nature of the characteristics on their own. One recurring theme which has emerged from the literature examining the predictive validity of the complete triad of behaviors is a dysfunctional home environment (Prentky & Carter, 1984; Wax & Haddox, 1974). That is, the presence of one or more of the triad behaviors is indicative of maladaptive home and family conditions.…”

Section: Conclusion and Implications For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is potentially more damaging than helpful. The existing research shows that the presence of one or more of these behaviors is highly indicative of a stressful home environment and/or developmental disabilities (Prentky & Carter, 1984; Singer & Hensley, 2004; Wax & Haddox, 1974). So, rather than being labeled by others as potentially violent, the presence of these behaviors should be treated as warning signs that the child is in need of professional attention and/or emotional support.…”

Section: Conclusion and Implications For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Not the Sum of Its Parts: A Critical Review of the MacDonald Triad

Parfitt

Alleyne

2018

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

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The MacDonald triad posits that animal cruelty, fire setting, and bed wetting in childhood is indicative of later aggressive and violent behavior in adults. Researchers refer to this phenomenon as a precursor to later antisocial behaviors including serial and sexual murder; while practitioners cite the triad in clinical formulations and risk assessments. However, there is yet to be a critical review and consolidation of the literature that establishes whether there is empirical support. This article explores the validity of the triad. We conducted a narrative review of the relevant studies examining the MacDonald triad and its individual constituents. There is evidence that any one of the triad behaviors could predict future violent offending, but it is very rare to find all three behaviors together as predictors. Thus, the empirical research on the MacDonald triad does not fully substantiate its premise. Rather, it would appear that the triad, or its individual constituents, is better used as an indicator of dysfunctional home environments, or poor coping skills in children. Future research is needed with robust and rigorous methodologies (e.g., adequate control groups, longitudinal designs) to fully establish the MacDonald triad's validity. Finally, further consideration is needed as to whether the triad behaviors are more indicative of other problematic outcomes (e.g., maladaptive coping to life stressors).

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Section: The Macdonald Triad 12mentioning

confidence: 75%

Section: The Macdonald Triad: Evaluating the Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Conclusion and Implications For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Conclusion and Implications For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Not the Sum of Its Parts: A Critical Review of the MacDonald Triad

Parfitt

Alleyne

2018

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

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“…Using a larger sample of sex offenders ( n = 206), Prentky and Carter (1984) documented associations between the triad (or individual components) and several developmental indicators, including a history of physical or sexual abuse, neglect, maternal drug use, and paternal criminality. By contrast, associations with variables related to offending were not significant.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validity of the MacDonald triad as a forensic construct: Links with psychopathology and patterns of aggression in sex offenders

Joubert

Welsh

Edward

2020

Legal Criminol Psychol

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Purpose. The MacDonald triad is composed of three developmental markers, including cruelty to animals, firesetting, and enuresis after the age of 5. Although there has been considerable interest in this construct initially, research has produced inconsistent results regarding its validity in terms of distinguishing between offender and non-offender populations, or predicting future offences. The current study investigated the links between the triad, dimensions of psychopathology, and trajectories of aggression in a sample of 254 rapists previously collected from a single forensic mental health institution in the United States. Method. A retrospective temporal design was used to examine associations between variables in a sequence of ten offences. Results. Latent structure analyses yielded a two-class solution for the triad indicators, a five-dimensional model for psychopathology and three trajectories for the aggression variables over a sequence of ten offences. Univariate analyses revealed that the class characterized primarily by a high prevalence of cruelty to animals and firesetting was associated with a higher level of antisocial and aggressive traits, as well as with a trajectory of offending featuring higher levels of expressive aggression, at least during the first few offences in the sequence. These associations were large and weak-to-moderate in magnitude, respectively. Conclusions. If replicated, these findings may suggest that a particular subgroup of sex offenders showing components of the triad are at particular risk of developing antisocial features, thus impacting the level of risk they pose to potential victims and the community.

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