NCJ Number
186032
Journal
Journal of Sexual Aggression Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: 2000 Pages: 88-98
Date Published
2000
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Research that used data from a group of 20 incest offenders, 20 nonfamilial child molesters, and 20 nonsex offenders from 2 Canadian Federal penitentiaries, and from 21 nonoffenders recruited from the local community examined implications of the theory that sex offenders lack the capacity to engage in or maintain intimate relationships and that their attachment styles are insecure.
Abstract
The participants completed a self-report questionnaire that detailed their characteristic relationship style. Institutional files provided information on the level of violence used by sex offenders. Results revealed that nonfamilial child molesters were five times more likely to report a fearful avoidant relationship style than a secure style, when compared to the community group. The ratings of the nonfamilial child molesters were significantly higher than the ratings of community participants and incest offenders on ratings of the degree to which they considered themselves to be fearful avoidant. Among the pooled group of child molesters, dismissively avoidant offenders used higher levels of aggression in their offenses than did secure or fearful avoidant offenders. Findings offered partial support for the hypothesis that sex offenders have patterns of attachment that differ from nonoffenders, but did not reveal any differences in attachment styles between sex offenders and nonsex offenders. Findings also suggested the need for further research on some specific topics. Tables and 24 references (Author abstract modified)