NCJ Number
173364
Journal
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: January 1997 Pages: 57-74
Date Published
1997
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Sex offenders in New Zealand were compared with two criminal comparison groups in terms of their perceptions of their intimate relationships, because recent research suggests that sex offenders have deficits in their intimacy skills that may have a significant role in the etiology and maintenance of their dysfunctional behavior.
Abstract
Participants included 55 child molesters, 30 rapists, 32 nonviolent sex offenders, and 30 offenders who had committed nonviolent offenses that were not sexual in nature. The participants were interviewed; grounded theory analysis was used to develop a set of categories from the interview data. These categories were used to identify differences in the perceptions of adult romantic relationships between sex offenders and the comparison groups. Results revealed that relationship commitment, evaluation of the partner, self-disclosure, trust, expression of affection, sexual satisfaction, the giving and receiving of support, empathy, conflict resolution, autonomy, and sensitivity to rejection were all significant aspects of sex offenders' perceptions of their intimate relationships. Findings also suggested that sex offenders have a number of intimacy deficits that create difficulties in their romantic relationships. These deficits are largely shared by the violent offenders; therefore, they are not specific to sex offenders. These deficits represent a general vulnerability factor that leads to the development of a variety of offenses and life problems. 31 references (Author abstract modified)