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Dissertation
Impulsivity in pedophilic sexual offenders
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
Aug 1999
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00009946
Abstract
Sexual offenses against children in the United States have increased dramatically over the past 10 years (Hanson, Cox, & Woszcyna, 1991). In 1995 the Federal Bureau of Investigation identified over 100,000 sex offenders in the criminal justice system (United States Department of Justice Statistics, 1996). It is estimated, however, that the annual incidence of sexual assaults is anywhere from 2 to 20 times higher than that reported to the authorities (Lockhart et al., 1989). Although sexual offenses against children are presumably mediated by several variables, one factor that may facilitate pedophilic behavior is a lack of impulse control (Fowler, Burns, & Reheel, 1983; Prentky, Knight, Lee, & Cerce, 1995). Although impulsivity has been studied in numerous populations including criminals, few studies have specifically focused on pedophiles. In this project two widely used self-report measures, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and the Eysenck Impulsivity Questionnaire, were administered to a population of incarcerated pedophiles. Their results were compared to groups of violent, but non-sexual, offenders and community controls. Results obtained from 133 subjects failed to reveal significant differences in impulsivity, both within subtypes of pedophiles and between pedophiles and comparison groups. This would appear to suggest that differences in impulse control do not mediate offending behavior.
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Details
- Title
- Impulsivity in pedophilic sexual offenders
- Creators
- David M. Kalal
- Contributors
- Arthur M. Nezu (Advisor) - Drexel University, Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002)
- Awarding Institution
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- vi, 112 pages, 1 unnumbered page
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002); Clinical and Health Psychology [Historical]; School of Health Professions (1998-2000)
- Other Identifier
- 991021888716404721