Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The intelligence of rapists

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

Abstract

IQs of rapists were compared to IQs of nonrapist prisoners convicted of violent crimes and nonrapist prisoners convicted of nonviolent crimes. Subjects were 136 male convicted felons in the Kentucky State Penitentiary. Determination of violent vs. nonviolent crimes other than rape was made upon consultation with a Kentucky Commonwealth Attorney. The results revealed significantly lower IQs for rapists compared to nonrapists convicted of violent crimes and compared to heterogeneous nonrapist convicts. The present research supports the findings of Karacan and co-workers, indicating a general tendency for rapists to have lower IQs than other convicted prisoners.

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

  • Allen, C. (1969).A Textbook of Psychosexual Disorders Oxford University Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebhard, P., Gagnon, J. H., Pomeroy, W. B., and Christenson, H. T. (1965).Sex Offenders Hoeber, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karacan, I., Williams, R. L., Guerrero, M. W., Solis, P. J., Thornby, J. I., and Hursch, C. J. (1974). Nocturnal penile tumescence and sleep of convicted rapists and other prisoners.Arch. Sex. Behav. 3: 19–25.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perdue, W. C., and Lester, D. (1972). Personality characteristics of rapists.Percept. Motor Skills 35: 514.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Randell, J. (1973).Sexual Variations Priory Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Western State Hospital, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, USA

    Carol F. Ruff M.A. (Chief Psychologist) & Joyce L. Ayers M.A. (Staff Psychologist)

  2. Waterford Hospital, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada

    Donald I. Templer Ph.D. (Chief Psychologist)

Authors
  1. Carol F. Ruff M.A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Donald I. Templer Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joyce L. Ayers M.A.
    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

Ruff, C.F., Templer, D.I. & Ayers, J.L. The intelligence of rapists. Arch Sex Behav 5, 327–329 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542085

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542085

Key words

Search

Navigation