NCJ Number
208364
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2001 Pages: 222-233
Editor(s)
Jon R. Conte
Date Published
March 2001
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study compared levels of empathy among adolescent male sex offenders and nonoffending adolescent males.
Abstract
Empathy development is considered to be an important element in adolescent sex offender treatment. However, prior research studies comparing empathy levels between sexual offenders and nonoffenders found no statistical difference between adolescent offenders and their nonoffending counterparts. This study investigated levels of empathy among 46 adolescent-male offenders in an outpatient sex offender treatment program for adolescents and compared them to their nonoffending counterparts from a local high school. All those in the program had been adjudicated on at least one charge of first or second degree sexual assault. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) was used to measure empathy. The IRI is a 28-item scale assessing empathy using 4 subscales: perspective taking, empathic concern, fantasy, and personal distress. Contradicting previous research, the results seemed to support the idea that adolescent males who sexually offend are lower in overall empathy than their non-offending counterparts. However, the study fell short in separating sexual offending from other forms of delinquent behavior. References