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Attachment Styles and Psychological Profiles of Child Sex Offenders in Ireland

NCJ Number
205967
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2004 Pages: 228-251
Author(s)
Fiona Marsa; Gary O'Reilly; Alan Carr; Paul Murphy; Maura O'Sullivan; Anthony Cotter; David Hevey
Editor(s)
Jon R. Conte
Date Published
February 2004
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This article presents a study that psychologically profiled a group of Irish sex offenders.
Abstract
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a widespread problem in Ireland, yet there is little research on the psychological profiles of Irish child sex offenders. This research is essential for the refinement of assessment and treatment protocols and for informing prevention practices. The primary goal of this study was to psychologically profile a group of Irish sex offenders. The study used a four-group comparative cross-sectional design to permit comparisons to be made between child sex offenders, violent offenders, nonviolent offenders, and community controls on measures of adult attachment, current emotional loneliness, locus of control, and anger management. Data for the study were obtained from 3 groups of imprisoned offenders and a community control group, each containing 30 members (except the child sex offender group, which had 29 members). The participants completed questionnaires evaluating attachment style, recollection of parent-child relationship difficulties, current emotional loneliness, locus of control, and anger management. Analysis of the data found that a secure adult attachment style was four times less common in the child sex offender group than in any of the other three groups. Ninety-three percent of sex offenders had an insecure adult attachment style, and compared with the community controls, the child sex offender group reported significantly lower levels of maternal and paternal care and significantly higher levels of maternal and paternal overprotection during their childhood. In addition, compared with all three comparison groups, the child sexual offenders reported significantly more emotional loneliness and a more external locus of control. As regards anger management, the child sexual offenders' profile more closely approximated those of nonviolent offenders and community controls than that of violent offenders. These findings support the hypotheses that the child sex offenders would show a greater rate of fearful attachment style, greater loneliness, a more external locus of control, and abnormal anger management. The hypothesis of preoccupied attachment was not supported by the research. Study limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed. 6 tables and 48 references