CLINICAL SUMMARY: CLINICAL INTEGRATION GROUP READINGS
AUTHOR(S):
TITLE:
SOURCE:
YEAR:
Simons, Dominique A., Wurtele, Sandy K., & Durham, Robert L.
Developmental experiences of child sexual abusers and rapists
Child Abuse and Neglect 32(5), 549-560
2008
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK (IF APPLICABLE):
The authors reviewed previous research results and theories which proposed that child
sexual abusers were more likely to have personal histories of child sexual abuse, while
rapists were more likely to have experienced physical abuse during childhood. Past
research also indicated that sexual offenders were highly likely to have been exposed to
emotional abuse, and to multiple forms of maltreatment during childhood.
SAMPLE, DESIGN, MEASURES (IF APPLICABLE):
Target population: Incarcerated adult male sexual offenders who had committed
offences that involved rape or sexual abuse of children.
Description of sample: 269 sexual offenders (137 rapists and 132 child sexual abusers),
under supervision in medium and minimum restrictive security prisons at the Colorado
Department of Corrections (CDOC) from March 2003 to March 2004. This was a
convenience sample comprised of an equal number of rapists and child sexual abusers,
identified through official records and subsequently recruited from a treatment
population of 337 incarcerated sexual offenders. These offenders were receiving
standardized cognitive-behavioral treatment as a condition of the CDOC Sex Offender
Treatment and Monitoring Program.
The demographic characteristics of the child sexual abusers and rapists were described
in a Table. There were no significant differences between child sexual abusers and
rapists in age or education. Child sexual abusers were more likely to be divorced, and
rapists were more likely to be single. The ethnic composition of the sample showed
differences in the percentages of Caucasian and Hispanic ethnicities between the two
groups. Finally, child sexual abusers reported more caregivers in comparison to rapists.
Measures used:
 Pre-sentence Investigative Reports
 Polygraph reports
 Redirecting Sexual Aggression Sexual History Disclosure Questionnaire
 Childhood Experiences Behavior Questionnaire
 Parental-bonding (or attachment) was assessed using modified items from the
Childhood Attachment Questionnaire (Hazen & Shaver, 1987)
 Balanced inventory of desirable responding (BIDR)
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SUMMARY / MAJOR FINDINGS / THEMES:
Findings from this study supported the role of specific developmental experiences as
causal factors in differential sexual offending. Child sexual abusers’ developmental
histories were characterized by heightened sexuality; whereas rapists’ childhood
histories were more indicative of violence.
The average age of onset of sexual offending was 14 for child sexual abusers and 16 for
rapists. Child sexual abusers sexually abused children (average age was 9 years old)
from multiple relationships, consisting of strangers, acquaintances, relatives, or when
they were functioning in positions of trust (e.g. babysitter, teacher, coach). Rapists
sexually assaulted women from multiple relationships, which consisted primarily of a
combination of strangers, acquaintances (e.g. girlfriends), and relatives (e.g. wives). The
majority of child victims for both groups consisted of female children. Rapists who
reported child victims disclosed abusing children who were considered acquaintances,
and the average age of their child victims was 13 years old.
Significantly higher rates of childhood sexual abuse were found among child sexual
abusers (i.e., 73% vs. 43% for rapists). Child sexual abusers were more likely to report
intra-familial sexual abuse, abuse by a male perpetrator, and multiple abuse episodes
that were more severe (e.g. force, oral, or anal victimization). One-third of child sexual
abusers reported experiencing sexual abuse from more than one perpetrator, 34%
reported being sexually abused by people in multiple relationships, 53% reported that
the perpetrator was a male, and 22% reported that the perpetrator was a family
member. Child sexual abusers were sexually abused at a significantly younger age in
comparison to rapists.
Sexual abuse experiences reported by rapists were significantly less frequent (e.g. single
episode) and less severe (e.g. fondling). Rapists were also more likely to report a single
episode of sexual abuse by a female acquaintance (e.g. neighbor).
In contrast to child sexual abusers, rapists reported more violence in the home. The
majority of rapists (78%) reported witnessing parental violence, mostly perpetrated by
male caregivers. Also consistent with a violent home environment, the majority (68%)
of rapists disclosed experiencing physical abuse, mostly perpetrated by their male
caregivers. Rapists also reported more frequent and more severe physical abuse (85%
reported hitting; 14% reported severe abuse involving guns or knives).
Both groups of offenders reported being emotionally abused during childhood; however
rapists reported significantly more frequent experiences in comparison to child sexual
abusers.
Child sexual abusers reported more early exposure to pornography (65% before age 10),
an earlier onset of masturbation (60% before age 11). 51% of child sexual abusers
reported that they had masturbatory thoughts of their own abuse during childhood, and
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55% reported deviant masturbatory fantasies (e.g., sexual interactions with children)
during adolescence.
Significantly more child sexual abusers reported having engaged in sexual activities with
animals (38%). In contrast, rapist reported having perpetrated more incidents of
physical cruelty to animals (68%).
Child sexual abusers reported more anxious attachment bonds in comparison to rapists.
Within the child sexual abuser group, there was no significant difference between
paternal and maternal bonding scores. In contrast to child sexual abusers, rapists
reported significantly more avoidant attachment bonds (p < .005), and they reported
poorer attachment bonds to paternal figures in comparison to maternal figures. Few
offenders (6%) reported parental relationships characteristic of secure attachment
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS / RELEVANCE TO PRACTICE:
The findings of this study have implications for the treatment of sexual abusers and the
prevention of sexual abuse. Findings suggested that through experiences of both
indirect and direct abuse, sexual offenders developed a mode of thinking and relating to
others that permit socially inappropriate means of achieving their goals. These
individuals have observed and experienced violence as a means to achieve autonomy,
and sexual abuse to achieve intimacy. Without experiencing secure parental
attachments, they lack positive “working models” to establish healthy relationships with
others.
Clinically, these findings imply that in order to prevent re-offending, therapists will need
to address the maladaptive strategies that sexual offenders have developed for
satisfying needs or achieving goals. This study’s findings suggest that sexual offenders
have been socialized to satisfy human needs of intimacy and sexuality through
maladaptive means. This implies that a “risk management” approach may not be
sufficient treatment. Although risk models teach offenders skills to avoid high-risk
situations, they fail to address the maladaptive strategies that they may have developed
for satisfying needs. Instead, the focus of treatment should be to equip offenders with
the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to achieve these needs in an acceptable
manner. This treatment model will provide these individuals with the opportunity to live
a healthy life without sexual offending.
With respect to secondary prevention, these findings also suggest that specific
interventions need to be provided to individuals and families who have been identified
as having these developmental risk factors (insecure attachment, child sexual abuse,
animal abuse). Most importantly, universal preventive interventions need to be
developed to decrease the prevalence of these factors in the general population as a
means to prevent the development of sexual offending behaviors.
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STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY/READING:
Limitations: Participants consisted of incarcerated adult male sexual offenders who
participated in intensive cognitive behavioral therapy that motivated full disclosure.
This differentiated them from female sexual offenders, non-incarcerated sexual
offenders, or sexual offenders who were not amenable to treatment. As well the
sample in this study was constituted of only 15% of the total number of incarcerated
sexual offenders in the state of Colorado which limits the generalization of the findings.
The study included individuals who committed crossover sexual offences.
Strengths: These findings appear to be generalizable to high-risk sexual offenders who
exhibit a long history of sexual offending.
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