Abstract
Enhancement of victim empathy is a common component in the treatment of sexual offenders. However, consensus about the definition of empathy and the best instrument to measure empathy in sexual offenders is lacking. This paper evaluates the Empat as a measure of empathy with patients civilly committed under California's Sexually Violent Predator law. Rapists and child molesters in the current sample scored significantly higher in victim empathy than any of the original sex offender groups, with rapists scoring higher than the control group cited by M. McGrath, S. Cann, and R. Konopasky (1998). Clinicians have found the Empat to be too face valid and easily manipulated by patients within this population. The construct of empathy as applied to sex offenders is reviewed and the properties of a more adequate measure of this construct are suggested.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Abel, G. G., & Rouleau, J. L. (1990). The nature and extent of sexual assault. In W. L. Marshall, D. R. Laws, & H. E. Barbaree (Eds.), Handbook of sexual assault: Issues, theories, and treatment of the offender (pp. 9-21). New York: Plenum.
Abel, G., Becker, J., Mittleman, M., Cunningham-Rathner, J., Rouleau, J., & Murphy, W. (1987). Self-reported sex crimes of nonincarcerated paraphiliacs. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2, 3-25.
Davis, M. (1983). Measuring individual differences in empathy: Evidence for a multidimensional approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44, 113-126.
Doren, D. (1998). Recidivism base rates, predictions of sex offender recidivism, and the “sexual predator” commitment laws. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 16, 97-114.
Dymond, R. (1948). A preliminary investigation of the relation of insight and empathy. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 12, 228-233.
Hall, G. C. N. (1995). Sexual offender recidivism revisited: Ameta-analysis of recent treatment studies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63, 802-809.
Hanson, R. K., Cox, B., & Woszczyna, C. (1991). Assessing treatment outcome for sexual offenders. Annals of Sex Research, 4, 177-208.
Hanson, R. K., & Scott, H. (1995). Assessing perspective-taking among sexual offenders, nonsexual criminals, and nonoffenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 7, 259-277.
Hare, R. D. (1991). The Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised. Toronto, Ontario: Multi-Health Systems.
Hennessy, M. T. (1999). A survey of the nation's sexual predator treatment programs. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, University of Denver.
Hogan, R. (1969). Development of an empathy scale. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 33, 307-316.
Keenan, T., & Ward, T. (2000). A theory of mind perspective on cognitive, affective, and intimacy deficits in child sexual offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 12, 49-60.
Knopp, F. H., Freeman-Longo, R., & Stevenson, W. F. (1992). Nationwide survey of juvenile and adult sex-offender treatment program and models. Orwell, VT: The Safer Society Program.
Lipton, D. N., McDonel, E. C., & McFall, R. M. (1987). Heterosocial perception in rapists. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 17-21.
Marshall, W., Hudson, S., Jones, R., & Fernandez, Y. (1995). Empathy in sex offenders. Clinical Psychology Review, 15, 99-113.
McGrath, M., Cann, S., & Konopasky, R. (1998). New measures of defensiveness, empathy, and cognitive distortions for sexual offenders against children. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 10, 25-36.
Mehrabian, A., & Epstein, N. (1972). A measure of emotional empathy. Journal of Personality, 40, 525-543.
Pithers, W. (1994). Process evaluation of a group therapy component designed to enhance sex offenders' empathy for sexual abuse survivors. Behavior Research and Therapy, 32, 565-570.
Pithers, W. (1999). Empathy; definition, enhancement, and relevance to the treatment of sexual abusers. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14, 257-284.
Prentky, R., Lee, A., Knight, R., & Cerce, D. (1997). Recidivism rates among child molesters and rapists: A methodological analysis. Law and Human Behavior, 21, 635-659.
Rice, M., Harris, G., & Quinsey, V. (1990). A follow-up of rapists assessed in a maximum-security psychiatric facility. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 5, 435-448.
Stotland, E. (1969). Exploratory investigations of empathy. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 4). New York: Academic Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hennessy, M., Walter, J.S. & Vess, J. An Evaluation of the Empat as a Measure of Victim Empathy with Civilly Committed Sexual Offenders. Sex Abuse 14, 237–247 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015370425233
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015370425233