NCJ Number
48953
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 170-174
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
PERSONALITY, INTELLECTUAL, AND SOCIAL BACKGROUND CORRELATES OF SEXUAL ATTITUDES ARE EXPLORED IN SAMPLES OF SEXUAL OFFENDERS AND NONSEX OFFENDERS CONFINED IN AN ENGLISH HOSPITAL FOR MENTALLY ABNORMAL OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE SEX OFFENDER SAMPLE CONSISTED OF 34 MALES ADMITTED TO THE FACILITY FOR EXPLICITLY SEXUAL OFFENSES, PRIMARILY RAPE, ATTEMPTED RAPE, AND INDECENT ASSAULT. MOST OF THE OFFENSES INVOLVED SOME DEGREE OF PERSONAL VIOLENCE. THE NONSEX OFFENDER GROUP INCLUDED 23 MALES ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR OTHER OFFENSES, INCLUDING ASSAULT AND MURDER. ALL SUBJECTS COMPLETED A TEST OF SEXUAL ATTITUDES (SEX DRIVE AND INTEREST, SEXUAL MALADJUSTMENT, NEUROTIC CONFLICT, REPRESSION OF SEX, LOSS OF SEX CONTROLS, HOMOSEXUALITY, SEX-ROLE CONFIDENCE, SOCIOPATHIC SEXUAL ATTITUDES). ANXIETY, EXTROVERSION, SOCIABILITY, AND IMPULSIVITY SCALES FROM THE MINNESOTA MULTIPHASIC PERSONALITY INVENTORY WERE ALSO SCORED. SEX OFFENDERS SCORED SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN NONSEX OFFENDERS ON SCALES MEASURING SEXUAL MALADJUSTMENT AND FEELINGS OF LOSS OF CONTROL. SIGNIFICANT CORRELATIONS BETWEEN SEXUAL ATTITUDES AND MEASURES OF ANXIETY AND EXTROVERSION WERE FOUND IN BOTH GROUPS. NEITHER INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT NOR SOCIAL CLASS SHOWED SIGNIFICANT CORRELATION WITH SEXUAL ATTITUDES. AGE HAD A POSITIVE CORRELATION WITH SEXUAL REPRESSION. IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)