Typology Of Offenders Research Articles

The utility of the MMPI and the MSI for identifying a sexual offender typology

Sexual offenders are known to be heterogeneous in their behavior and their psychologic functioning; however, studies of their heterogeneity have focused on standard measures of psychopathology rather than on measures of sexual deviance. The purpose of the current study was to determine if the Multiphasic Sex Inventory (MSI) would be more effective in developing a typology than the instrument most often used in sexual offender studies, the MMPI. Incarcerated sexual offenders in the Nebraska and Florida prison systems were chosen and multivariate cluster analyses were conducted using both their MMPI scores and their scores from the MSI. Results suggested that the MSI was more effective in determining clinically different subgroups of sexual offenders. These subgroups were independent of victim maturity and victim gender, and the results were consistent regardless of geographic location. The characteristics which differentiated the subgroups suggested the need for somewhat different treatment approaches for each subgroup.

The Utility of the MMPI and the MSI for Identifying a Sexual Offender Typology

Sexual offenders are known to be heterogeneous in their behavior and their psychologic functioning; however, studies of their heterogeneity have focused on standard measures of psychopathology rather than on measures of sexual deviance. The purpose of the current study was to determine if the Multiphasic Sex Inventory (MSI) would be more effective in developing a typology than the instrument most often used in sexual offender studies, the MMPI. Incarcerated sexual offenders in the Nebraska and Florida prison systems were chosen and multivariate cluster analyses were conducted using both their MMPI scores and their scores from the MSI. Results suggested that the MSI was more effective in determining clinically different subgroups of sexual offenders. These subgroups were independent of victim maturity and victim gender, and the results were consistent regardless of geographic location. The characteristics which differentiated the subgroups suggested the need for somewhat different treatment approaches for each subgroup.

An empirically-based typology of male young offenders

An empirically-based typology of male young offenders

Mcmi typologies of criminal sexual offenders

Abstract Separate duster analyses of MCMI profiles were conducted with a sample of 603 offenders, consisting of child molesters (N=202), adult rapists (N=195), and non-sexually aggressive felons (N=206). The personality styles of dependent and narcissistic-antisocial appeared both across and within sexual offender groups. A subgroup of relatively normal or mild personality traits associated with narcissism and compulsive traits also appeared across groups. Results suggest that the personality styles of sexual offenders is heterogeneous, but that the styles of dependent and narcissistic-antisocial are more prevalent with this population.

Characteristics of Substance-Abusing Offenders: Implications for Treatment Programming

Despite the high prevalence of substance abuse problems in incarcerated offenders, the development and evaluation of treatment programs for the group is very rudimentary and lags behind current thinking and research activities in the substance abuse field. Alcohol and drug abuse are increasingly considered to be myriad collections of various clinical conditions. Emerging multivariate models have indicated the need to identify homogeneous subgroups of abusers in order to match them to appropriate treatment. This article describes a typology of substance-abusing offenders derived from application of multivariate statistical algorithms. Five types of substance abusing offenders are described, and recommendations as to the components of treatment required to address the needs of each group are provided.

Comorbidity of conduct disorder and personality disorders in an incarcerated juvenile population

Youths with conduct disorder extract an inordinate amount of time and money from the U.S. judicial system and taxpayers, yet studies pertaining to this population have been few. This study was undertaken to examine the co-occurrence of personality disorders and conduct disorder in a group of incarcerated children and adolescents and to raise the issue of the possibility of antisocial personality disorder in persons under the age of 18 years. One hundred incarcerated juvenile offenders aged 11-17 years were randomly selected and then interviewed with the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents--Revised and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders to establish their psychiatric diagnoses. Eighty-seven percent of the group met the criteria for conduct disorder. Among those diagnosed as having conduct disorder, the only comorbid personality disorder that was present with significant frequency was antisocial personality disorder. The other comorbid personality disorder diagnoses that appeared most frequently were the borderline, narcissistic, paranoid, passive-aggressive, and dependent types. Borderline personality disorder was observed more frequently in the females than in the males with conduct disorder. The findings suggest that by using DSM-III-R criteria for adult personality disorders, one finds a considerable number of personality disorders in a young population with conduct disorder. The findings also show that youths manifest signs of antisocial personality disorder before they are 18 years of age, raising the question of how age should be incorporated into the diagnosis of personality disorder as DSM-IV is being prepared.

A validational note on the revised Socialization Scale of the California Psychological Inventory

The revised (1987) Socialization Scale of the California Psychological Inventory was studied in a sample of 121 delinquent and nondelinquent males to determine if the revised scale, compared to the original version of the scale (1957), could differentiate among a group of nonoffenders and a comprehensive typology of offenders. Results of an ANOVA and product-moment correlations provided significant and considerable support for the discriminability of the revised So Scale. Obtained results indicate that the revised instrument can differentiate offenders from nonoffenders to about the same, or a greater, degree than the original scale.

Offenders who kidnap adult victims

Abstract A survey of referrals to a regional secure unit (RSU) over a 4-year period yielded 16 cases of offenders who kidnapped or otherwise illegally detained adult victims. The offenders were all male and the victims with two exceptions were female. The majority of victims were previously known to the offender. Review of the case-notes revealed a high incidence of psychopathology among such offenders. This mainly took the form of disorder of personality. An attempt to construct a typology of offenders, excluding those motivated by political ends, suggests that the commonest reason for offending amongst those referred to a forensic service was an abortive attempt to repair a relationship.

Of Persons and Situations, of Personality and Social Psychology

Eaves, L. J., Eysenck, H. J., & Martin, N. G. (1989). Genes, culture, and personality: An experimental approach. New York: Academic. Epstein, S. (1983). Aggregation and beyond: Some basic issues in the prediction of behavior. Journal of Personality, 51, 360-391. Funder, D. C., & Ozer, D. J. (1983). Behavior as a function of the situation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44, 107-112. Gale, A., Eysenck, M. W. (in press). Handbook of individual differences: Biological perspectives. London: Wiley. Glueck, S., & Glueck, E. (1970). Toward a typology of juvenile offenders: Implications for therapy and prevention. New York: Grune & Stratton. Glueck, S., &Glueck, E. (1972). Identificationofpredelinquents: Validation studies and some suggested uses of Glueck table. New York: Intercontinental Medical Book Corporation. Goldberg, L. R. (1990). An alternative Description of Personality: The Big-Five factor structure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 1216-1229. Green, B. F., Jr. (1978). In defense of measurement. American Psychologist, 33, 664-670. McCartney, K., Harris, M. J., & Bernieri, F. (1990). Growing up and growing apart: A developmental meta-analysis of twin studies. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 226-237. Nisbett, R., & Ross, L. (1980). Human inference: Strategies and shortcomings of social judgment. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Peabody, D. (1967). Trait inferences: Evaluative and descriptive aspects. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology Monograph, 7(4, Whole No. 644). Peabody, D. (1968). Group judgments in the Philippines: Evaluative and descriptive aspects. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 10, 290-300. Peabody, D. (1970). Evaluative and descriptive aspects in personality perceptions: A reappraisal. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 16, 639-646. Peabody, D. (1985). National characteristics. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. Rowe, D. C. (1987). Resolving the person-situation debate: Invitation to an interdisciplinary dialogue. American Psychologist, 42, 218-227. Schneider, D. J. (1991). Social cognition. In M. R. Rosenzweig & L. W. Porter (Eds.), Annual review of psychology (Vol. 42, pp. 527-561). Palo Alto, CA: Annual Reviews Inc. Wiggins, J. S. (1982). To err is human. Journal of PersonalityAssessment, 46, 103-106. Wilson, G. D. (1973). The psychology of conservatism. New York: Academic.

Studies of Brain Damage and Dysfunction in Sex Offenders

Pedophiles, sexual aggressives and incest offenders were examined for brain damage and dysfunction using computer tomography (CT) scans, the Halstead-Reitan (HR) Neuropsychological Test Battery, including the Weschsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R), the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS), and the Space Relations Test (SRT) of the Differential Aptitude Test. Results suggest that the groups of sex offenders examined did not suffer from memory or spatial (imaging) deficits. Subgroups of pedophiles, however, showed different patterns of neuropsychological deficits. Heterosexual and homosexual pedophiles showed verbal deficits and apparent left hemispheric brain dysfunction whereas bisexual pedophiles did not but rather showed right hemispheric visual-spatial deficits. An examination of problems surrounding typology of sex offenders and measurement issues in studying brain damage and dysfunction are discussed.

Some Critical Observations on Criminal Types and Criminal Careers

This article deals with offender typologies, which have been of interest to several generations of criminologists. A number of these efforts are reviewed, but major emphasis is placed on the author's “role-career” scheme. A variety of research findings produced in the past decade or so suggest that the typological approach has been relatively unfruitful. In general, “careers” in crime and deviance are encountered less frequently than is suggested by typologies.

Identifying Career Offenders Using Self-Reported Data

Self-reported delinquency data from a national youth panel were used to develop a career offender typology. Seven birth cohorts aged 11-17 at the first of five annual interviews provided the data for the study. The assumption that a career in delinquency implies continuity of involvement across time as well as the frequency with which illegal acts are committed was taken into account in the identification of four classes of offenders. The typology was validated using official arrest histories, social psychological predictor measures known to be associated with delinquent behavior, self-reported delinquency scales, and demographic variables. Offender typologies based upon official arrest and self-reported delinquency data were then compared. The findings indicate that the number of career offenders identified using official arrest data is only a fraction of the number identified using self-reported data. The partitioning of subjects into career offenders, noncareer offenders, and nonoffenders is quite different when using a self-reported compared to an official arrest measure of criminal involvement.

The Adolescent Sexual Offender and His Prey

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper by Groth was to present an investigation of the juvenile sexual offender and his victim. METHODOLOGY: The author employed a quasi-experimental study design with a non-probability sample of referrals to a forensic mental health facility in Massachusetts during the years 1970 through 1975. During this time, 26 offenders, convicted of rape or child assault, between the ages of 15 and 17 were referred to the Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sexually Dangerous Persons for evaluation. Also evaluated at the Center were 37 adults with a history of rape or child assault. The overall sample of 63 was divided into three groups based upon the age of the victim relative to the offender - those whose victims were the same age, those whose victims were significantly older and those whose were significantly younger. Older was defined as an adult victim at least ten years older than the offender, whilst younger was considered as a pre-adolescent victim who was at least five years younger than the subject. Offenders who assaulted same age or older people were considered rapists; those whose victims were younger were labelled as child molesters. Clinical interviews and examination of case material led to the collection of descriptive data about each offender and his victim. Analysis involved examination of frequencies. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: The typical adolescent sexual offender was found to be a white boy of almost 16 years of age, with average intelligence. The attack was generally performed alone, with the victim primarily being a white girl who was a year younger. The author found that the likelihood of the two parties knowing each other was the same as if they were strangers, although the attack was twice as likely to occur indoors than out, and usually in the victim's home. A weapon was present in one-third of the offenses, with drugs or alcohol not playing a major role in the incident. The offender was not a first-time assailant in three-quarters of the cases - 47 of the subjects had a known history of sexual assault. Rapists were older and scored higher on IQ tests than child molesters, with more interracial assaults of strangers and more frequent use of weapons. Child molesters were younger and had more male victims, usually with whom they were acquainted, with less frequent attempts at sexual penetration and little use of alcohol or drugs in relation to the offense. Assaults on older victims were more often interracial, and were more likely to have been committed by black offenders in the victim's home, with more violence and greater use of weapons and alcohol or drugs. Peer-age incidents were more likely to involve gang rape of males who were known to the offender, and were more likely to occur outside. Victim choice and method of assault remained consistent for the subjects over time, with many incidents being unknown to authorities. Adolescent offenders were similar to adult offenders in the sexual expression of anger and power that was involved in the offenses. Adolescent rapists and aggressive child molesters were also similar to adults in psychosocial characteristics, being loners without interpersonal or social skills, who were underachievers and who felt empty and frustrated. The non-aggressive child molester, however, was generally more passive and used psychological and social pressure to induce a child into sexual activity. The author saw sexual assault as a developmental defect in a boy who could not otherwise achieve his image of the masculine male, and who turned to sexual assault as a means of gaining self-identity. AUTHOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS: The author suggested that sexual offenses be seen as symptoms of emotional problems, with offenders requiring psychological assessment and security treatment facilities. EVALUATION: The author presents an informative examination of the profile of sexual assault offenders. However, the small sample and the lack of discussion about the measures used to assess such variables as psychological state preclude much generalizability. A more thorough discussion about the implications of the findings would have been helpful, as would have a more detailed examination of the similarities and differences between adolescent and adult offenders - issues concerning what makes juvenile offenders a special problem. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Massachusetts KW - Child Sexual Abuse Offender KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Juvenile Male KW - Male Offender KW - Male Violence KW - Late Adolescence KW - Offender Characteristics KW - Rape Offender KW - Sexual Assault Offender KW - Child Molester KW - Child Abuse Offender KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Offender Typology KW - Violence Against Women Language: en

Approaching a Comparative Typology of Assaultive Female Offenders

This two-part study explores the potential for assaultive behavior in females. The first part compares assaultive and nonassaultive female offenders for the presence of specific historical variables, and finds several significant differences. In the second part, the total female offender sample is compared with a male offender sample for presence of the same variables. The nearly equal incidence of several variables in both samples, such as persistent enuresis and firesetting, suggests a need for reassessment of some traditional theoretical formulations.

OFFENDER TYPOLOGIES-TWO DECADES LATER

In the period immediately following the second world war, a major crimino logical interest, particularly among sociologists, grew up around offender typologies. A number of persons offered arguments holding that adult and juvenile lawbreaking involves a heterogeneous collection of activities which must be broken down for study into more homogeneous units. According to this view, typologies or categorisations of offender patterns, types, syndromes, or role-careers are required in order that (a) progress can be made on the etiological task, and (b) efficacious treatment of offenders can be developed. The causal contention is that no single theory can be uncovered to account for such diverse types of lawbreaking (or for the persons who engage in them) as embezzlement, forcible rape, arson, gang delinquency, aggressive delin quency, female delinquency, and so forth. Instead, separate but perhaps inter-related etiological hypotheses must be developed for each distinct offender type. The closeness of this perspective to the medical model of separate syndromes or disorders, each arising out of a different disease pattern or other set of causal factors, is readily apparent. The case for typologies and diagnostic classifications in correctional therapy closely parallels the etiological view. The basic argument is that differential treatment must be developed in which various tactics such as psychotherapy, group counselling, reality therapy, behaviour modification, or other strategems would be matched with particular offender types. The treatment would be fitted to the offender, thereby bringing about more effective rehabilitation than is now being achieved. An early and important articulation of the typological view regarding juvenile delinquents was made by Hewitt and Jenkins (1944), based on research data from a study of referrals to a child guidance clinic. These in vestigators asserted that there are two major, distinct kinds of delinquents encountered in guidance clinic settings. In another typological statement, Cohen and Short (1958) argued that the population of juvenile delinquents is made up of a number of different types of misbehaving adolescents. Unlike Hewitt and Jenkins, these theorists drew upon a variety of impressionistic evidence to support their claims about types of offenders. Among the patterns hypothesised by Cohen and Short was a parent male delinquent subcul ture , along with a number of other variants of working-class gang delinquency. A third, well-known description of delinquent types is found in the work of Cloward and Ohlin (i960), who contended that lower-class, subcultural delinquents fall into several quite distinct types. Still another statement on these matters was made by Kinch (1962), who summarised a large number of essays in the criminological literature that had offered some contentions

Review of Toward a typology of juvenile offenders: Implications for therapy and prevention.

Review of Toward a typology of juvenile offenders: Implications for therapy and prevention.

Innovations in Probation Management

Because of rising public expectations and dwindling tax sup port, correction must provide better results at a lower price. For probation this means a re-examination of fundamental purposes, a reappraisal of the field officer's role, and an expanded use of such supplemental resources as auxiliary staff, group work, and specialized caseloads. To use such supplements properly the field needs a consistent body of theory regarding criminal behavior—a case classification system which includes a complete offender typology and a treatment strategy for each offender type.