NCJ Number
195453
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2002 Pages: 28-30
Date Published
2002
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a study of differences in interpersonal style between different types of sex offenders and non-sexual offenders, using the theoretical framework of the Interpersonal Circumplex Theory.
Abstract
This article summarizes a study of differences in interpersonal style between different types of sex offenders and non-sexual offenders, using the theoretical framework of the Interpersonal Circumplex Theory. Interpersonal profiles were computed for 186 offenders throughout the Ontario penitentiary system, including rapists, violent non-sexual offenders, child molesters, and general non-sexual, non-violent offenders. The Interpersonal Circle Model classifies behaviors on orthogonal axes representing bipolar dimensions of interpersonal styles of control and affiliation, i.e., hostile-dominant, hostile-submissive, friendly-dominant, and friendly-submissive. It was found that the difference in mean ratings were statistically significant for five categories with rapists rating themselves significantly higher in hostile-dominant styles and lower in warm-agreeable styles than child molesters. Violent offenders rated themselves as significantly higher in cold-hearted styles and lower in warm-agreeable than non-sexual, non-violent offenders. It was concluded that Interpersonal Circumplex Theory provides testable hypotheses to encourage the conduct of investigations in order to provide empirical evidence for clinical impressions and to encourage the consideration of a variety of methods of treating sex offenders. 11 Notes