Sexual Offenders - Results of Assessment and Recommendations for Treatment (From Clinical Criminology, P 191-205, 1985, Mark H Ben-Aron et al, eds. - See NCJ-101207)

• NCJ Number: 101216
• Author(s): G G Abel; M S Mittelman; J V Becker
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: Available in microfiche as NCJ-101207

Annotation

A clinical interview, paper-and-pencil tests, and a psychophysiological test of sexual arousal were administered to 411 paraphiliacs (rapists and child molesters).

Abstract

This sample attempted 238,711 and completed 218,900 sex crimes. The average duration of deviant arousal was 12 years. Nearly 50 percent of the sample exhibited multiple deviations. No evidence of psychopathology other than paraphilia was found in 59.9 percent of the child molesters and 44.9 percent of the rapists. Antisocial personality was the most common diagnosis in both groups. Both groups showed low social, empathy, and assertiveness skill levels. About 30 percent of molesters and 45 percent of rapists reported that the use of alcohol increased their sexual arousal. The use of pornography to increase arousal was reported by 14.2 percent of molesters and 48.1 percent of rapists. Results of psychophysiological assessment reveal that 49 percent of subjects failed to reveal the true nature of their paraphiliac arousal during the clinical interview. Results suggest that treatment of these sex offenders should aim at decreasing deviant and increasing nondeviant sexual arousal, developing social and assertiveness skills, and amelioration of cognitive deficits and distortions. Additional treatment goals include improving offenders' sexual knowledge, eliminating drugs associated with paraphiliac acts, and addressing specific sexual dysfunctions. 35 references.