Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Psychopathology and personality characteristics of criminal sexual offenders as a function of victim age

  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The affective, personality and psychopathological characteristics of incarcerated adult sex offenders was studied. Subjects were 144 men divided into three groups based on the age of their victims: prepubescent children, postpubescent adolescents, and adults. Results indicated significant differences between groups in trait anxiety and anger, self-esteem, and 7 of 13 MMPI scales. Results suggest a linear relationship between victim age and psychopathology, with child offenders displaying the greatest affective and thought disturbance. Adolescent offenders scored between child and adult offenders on most measures. Results are discussed in the context of theoretical explanations for sexual aggression and treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Araji, S., and Finkelhor, D. (1985). Explanations of pedophilia: Review of empirical research.Bull. Am. Acad. Psychiat. Law 13: 17–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butcher, J. N., and Tellegen, A. (1978). Common methodological problems in MMPI research.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 46: 620–628.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coopersmith, S. (1967).The Antecedents of Self-Esteem Freeman, San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowne, D., and Marlowe, D. (1960). A new scale of social desirability independent of psychopathology.J. Consult. Psychol. 24: 349–354.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duckworth, J., and Anderson, W. (1987).MMPI Interpretation Manual for Counselors and Clinicians 3rd ed., Accelerated Development, Muncie, IN.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erickson, W., Luxenberg, M., Walbek, N., and Seely, R. (1987). Frequency of MMPI two-point code types among sex offenders.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 55: 566–570.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelhor, D., and Araji, S. (1986). Explanations of pedophila: A four factor model.J. Sex Res. 22: 145–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, J. R. (1987).The MMPI: A Practical Guide 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groth, N. (1979).Men Who Rape: The Psychology of the Offender Plenum Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groth, N., and Birnbaum, H. (1978). Adult sexual orientation and attraction to underage persons.Arch. Sex. Behav. 7: 175–181.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, G. N., Maiuro, R., Vitaliano, P., and Proctor, W. (1986). The utility of the MMPI with men who have sexually assaulted children.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 54: 493–496.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kalichman, S. C. (1988).The development of a brief self esteem scale for forensic populations. (unpublished).

  • Kalichman, S. C. (1990). Affective and personality characteristics of replicated MMPI profile subgroups of incarcerated adult rapists.Arch. Sex. Behav. 19 443–459.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Levin, S., and Stava, L. (1987). Personality characteristics of sex offenders: A review.Arch. Sex. Behav. 16: 57–79.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, R. G. (1983).The Clinicians Handbook: The Psychopathology of Adulthood and Late Adolescence Allyn and Bacon, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, R. G. (1989).The Clinicians Handbook: The Psychopathology of Adulthood and Late Adolescence 2nd ed., Allyn and Bacon, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prentky, R., Cohen, M., and Seghorn, T. (1985). Development of a rational taxonomy for the classification of rapists: The Massachusetts treatment center system.Bull. Am. Acad. Psychiat. Law 13: 39–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shealy, L. (1989).Offender-victim relationships as a determinant of psychopathological characteristics of incarcerated sex offenders. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Washington, DC.

  • Spielberger, C. D., Jacobs, G., Crane, R., Russell, R., Westberry, L., Barber, L., Johnson, E., Knight, J., and Marks, E. (1979).Preliminary Manual for the State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI) University of South Florida, Human Resources Institute, Tampa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D., Gorusch, R., Lushene, R., Vagg, P., and Jacobs, G. (1983).Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, S., Freink, W., and Shaffer, J. (1964). Comparability of complete oral and booklet forms of the MMPI.J. Clin. Psychol. 20: 375–378.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

    Seth C. Kalichman Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Seth C. Kalichman Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kalichman, S.C. Psychopathology and personality characteristics of criminal sexual offenders as a function of victim age. Arch Sex Behav 20, 187–197 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541943

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541943

Key words

Search

Navigation