NCJ Number
210307
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 17 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2002 Pages: 1291-1307
Date Published
December 2002
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study examined the association between childhood victimization and lack of empathy as predictors of sexual offending against women and children.
Abstract
Previous research has identified childhood experiences of sexual and physical abuse and early exposure to pornography as important factors in sexual offending. The current study hypothesized that negative childhood experiences may exert an indirect influence on adult risk for sexual offending through their influence on perceptions of empathy. In short, it was expected that empathy for victims would mediate the relationship between childhood factors and adult risk for sexual offending. Participants were 188 incarcerated adult male sexual offenders serving sentences in a Colorado prison. Measures included the Presentence Investigative Report, the Redirecting Sexual Aggression Sexual History Disclosure Questionnaires, the Child Empathy Test, the Empathy for Women Test, and polygraph reports. Results of structural equation modeling indicated that offenders who experienced childhood sexual abuse and early exposure to pornography reported low levels of empathy for child victims and reported more offenses against children. Likewise, offenders who experienced childhood physical abuse reported low levels of empathy for women victims and reported more offenses against adult victims. The findings thus suggest that lack of empathy mediates the association between childhood victimization experiences and adult risk for sexual offending. Future research should investigate whether type of pornography exposure can predict sexual offense. Figures, table, references