NCJ Number
170811
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (1997) Pages: 87-98
Date Published
1997
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study compares 32 nonfamilial child molesters with 32 nonoffenders on measures of empathy, intimacy, loneliness, and self-esteem.
Abstract
Relative to the nonoffenders, the child molesters were deficient in empathy, intimacy, and self-esteem. Among the offenders, the correlations between scores on most of the measures had higher values than among the nonoffenders. Researchers have developed training modules that have effectively enhanced victim empathy, enhanced self-esteem, and both reduced loneliness and increased intimacy among offenders. Treating each of these features appears to facilitate changes in each of the other features. One limitation to these findings is the fact that the child molesters were all incarcerated; the process of arrest, conviction and imprisonment may have affected their scores on the various measures. However, evaluation of child molesters attending outpatient clinics found them to be equally low in intimacy and equally lonely. It remains to be seen whether the same holds true for self-esteem and empathy. The article discusses the results in terms of both theoretical and treatment implications. Tables, references