NCJ Number
148153
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 39 Issue: 2 Dated: (March 1994) Pages: 456-461
Date Published
1994
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study examined a group of pedophiles in an English Special Hospital to determine possible characteristics that make children attractive and adults unattractive to child molesters.
Abstract
The participants were eight pedophiles who had been convicted for offenses against children outside the family. Their psychiatrists had concluded that they had a primary sexual interest in children. The first control group consisted of eight men convicted of the nonsexual offenses of arson and assault. The second control group consisted of eight nursing assistants from a large psychiatric hospital. The research used the Repertory Grid technique and the Semantic Differential approach to determine participants' perceptions of photographs of fully clothed individuals of different ages and genders. The analysis produced a small number of significant findings suggesting that pedophiles may perceive some children and women in an unusual way. The large number of insignificant findings are discussed with reference to the sensitivity of the instrument, the pedophiles' desire to give socially acceptable answers, and the participants' characteristics of low IQ and psychopathic disorders. Chart and 15 references (Author abstract modified)