Differences in offending patterns between adolescent sex offenders high or low in callous-unemotional traits

Psychol Assess. 2010 Jun;22(2):298-305. doi: 10.1037/a0018707.

Abstract

In the present study, the authors investigated whether callous and unemotional (CU) traits designated a distinct and important group of adolescent sex offender. A sample of 150 detained adolescents (mean age = 15.89, SD = 1.53) with a current sexual offense disposition was assessed with a self-report measure of CU traits and through extensive assessments of the characteristics of their sexual offending behaviors using self-report interviews and file review. Results indicated that after controlling for the severity of their history of impulsive/antisocial behaviors, offenders high on CU traits had a greater number of sexual offense victims, used more violence with their victims, and engaged in more sexual offense planning than those low on these traits. The 2 groups did not differ greatly on the age of, gender of, or relationship with their victims.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / psychology
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data
  • Child
  • Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic
  • Criminals / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Rape / psychology*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Research Design
  • Risk Factors
  • Sexual Behavior*
  • Southeastern United States
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • White People / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult