Toward a Better Understanding and Treatment of Sex Offenders

Abstract

To help understand and provide treatment programs suited to the needs of sex offenders more study is needed with respect to their personality characteristics. Three factors were examined: dissociation, locus of control, and alienation. Three groups of men were compared: 42 sex offenders, 26 nonsex offenders, and 42 men from a community control group. The MMPI subscales for alienation and the K scale, Bernstein and Putnam's dissociation scale, and Ried and Ware's multidimensional locus of control measure were combined and administered to the three groups. The sex offenders were found to be more dissociated than the other two groups, more external on the overall measure of locus of control and more external than the community group on the subscale of self-control. The sex offenders were found to be more alienated than the other two groups. Implications for treatment and further research are discussed.

Empathy, Intimacy, Loneliness and Locus of Control in Child Sex Offenders: A Comparison Between Familial and Non-Familial Child Sexual Offenders

“…Studies by Seidman, Marshall, Hudson, and Robertson (1994) and Marshall, Champagne, Brown, and Miller (1997) have reported that child sex offenders experience less intimacy in their relationships than do non-sex offenders and community non-offenders. Graham (1993) and Seidman, Marshall, Hudson and Robertson (1994), in their studies of sex offenders, found that sex offenders were significantly more alienated (i.e., lonely) than comparison groups of non-sex offenders and community non-offenders although this finding was not supported by Marshall, Champagne, Brown, and Miller (1997). Garlick, Marshall and Thornton (1996) found that child sex offenders experienced more loneliness than comparison groups of rapists and non-sex offenders.…”

“…While few studies have been published in this area, the various studies that have been conducted (e.g., Bayse, Allgood & Van Wyk, 1992;Beck-Sander, 1995;Graham, 1993;McKay, Chapman, & Long, 1996) have consistently shown that sex offenders score higher on external locus of control measures than comparison groups of non-sex offenders and non-offenders. Accordingly, these individuals are likely to feel powerless in choosing their own behaviors and therefore, can be expected to manifest their perception of reality by blaming their crimes on external forces (e.g., society, police, courts, parents, and/or the victims) (Bayse, Allgood & Van Wyk, 1992).…”

“…There is less research available distinguishing child sex offenders from other types of offenders or examining differences between different subgroups of child sex offenders (Graham, 1993;Garlick, Marshall & Thornton, 1996). Although child sex offenders are often assumed to be a homogenous group of offenders, some have argued there may be important differences between subgroups of child sex offenders, with the implication that they may have different treatment needs (Williams & Finkelhor, 1990).…”

Sex and chernobyl: An overview and theoretical basis of the sex offender treatment program at westmorland institution

“…Our research demonstrates that these offenders tend to believe that they have low levels of power with respect to their instincts and emotions (Graham, 1993). They have not learned how to master these aspects of self.…”

“…Other individuals who demonstrate the symptomatology of abuse may suffer from dissociation and actually may not remember being abused (Graham, 1993). Sometimes during therapy the amnesia is cured and the abuse remembered.…”