NCJ Number
92850
Journal
Journal of Offender Counseling, Services and Rehabilitation Volume: 8 Issue: 1-2 Dated: (Fall/Winter 1983) Pages: 13-26
Date Published
1983
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Sex offenders (molesters and rapists) and non-offenders were measured according to participation (experimental groups) and non-participation (comparison groups) in fourteen sessions in human sexuality.
Abstract
Dependent variables were ratings on (1) negative attitudes toward masturbation and (2) normal and perverse desire/disgust relative to fantasies about women. Subjects totaled 51 males, 28 non-offenders and 23 sex offenders. Participants were combined according to offender/non-offender status with non-participants in a 2 x 2 factorial design. The experimental offenders and non-offenders scored significantly more positive attitudes toward masturbation but a significant main effect indicated a differential effect between rapists and molesters, with rapists showing more similarity to non-offenders than molesters. Concerning fantasies about women, results produced a significant experimental effect related to strong disgust of perverse fantasies about women. Again, a significant main effect and interaction revealed more similarity between rapists and non-offenders with molesters virtually unaffected. Even though results are limited, for generalization purposes because of the small sample size, the study strongly suggests that education in human sexuality may be one viable approach in preventing sex offenses and rehabilitating sex offenders. (Author abstract)