The Proportions of Different Types of Sex Offenders and the Degree of Difficulty in Treating Them: A Comparison of Perceptions by Clinicians in Taiwan and in Michigan

Abstract

Research has shown that sex offenders are a heterogeneous group, but few studies have examined differences in types of sex offenders cross-culturally or examined the perceptions of clinicians about difficulties in treating different types of sex offenders. This study compares the perceptions of clinicians in Taiwan and in Michigan of the types of sex offenders they are serving and on the difficulties of treating these sex offenders. The Groth typology of sex offenders was used as the baseline typology. Results show significant differences in proportions of rapists and child molesters between Taiwan and Michigan, but no significant differences were found in other types. The rankings by clinicians of the degree of difficulty in treating different types of sex offenders were identical in both areas, although the clinical experiences of clinicians between these two areas were different.