NCJ Number
240667
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 36 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2012 Pages: 379-382
Date Published
April 2012
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the different levels of psychopathy among pedophile and nonpedophile child molesters.
Abstract
The primary finding from the study indicates that nonpedophile child molesters had significantly higher levels of psychopathy compared to pedophile child molesters. The main purpose of the study was to investigate the different levels of psychopathy among pedophile and nonpedophile child molesters, those who had sexually offended against a child age 13 or younger. Data for the study were obtained from two independent samples of both pedophilic and nonpedophelic child molesters. The child molesters, 53 pedophilic and 51 nonpedophilic, were compared to each other and to 49 non-sex offenders in a control group. The level of psychopathy among the groups was assessed by the Psychopathic Personality Inventory. Analysis of the data found that other molesters of children for whom young children were not their primary interest (nonpedophilic child molesters) had higher levels of psychopathy than pedophilic child molesters, and with respect to psychopathy, nonpedophilic child molesters were more like general criminals compared to pedophilic child molesters. These findings suggest the need to distinguish more clearly between the two groups of child molesters. Study limitations and future directions for research are discussed. References