Patterns of denial in sex offenders: a replication study

To assess whether a robust typology of sex offenders could be established based on the patterns of denial displayed, a previously developed semistructured interview method was used to assess denial in a mixed group of convicted rapists and child molesters. Cluster analysis was used to establish homogeneous groups of sex offenders based on the pattern of denial in each case, with a three-cluster solution emerging as the most appropriate, confirming previous research. The denial groups were compared in relation to objective offense characteristics to assess whether a consistent typology of offenders emerged. Each of the four groups of offenders identified (three groups emerging from the cluster analysis and an "absolute denier" group) corresponded closely with the previously identified typology. However, the authors failed to replicate previously identified differences between the denial groups in relation to independent variables such as offense type. Each group contained both rapists and child molesters and was found to differ quantitatively rather than qualitatively in the pattern of the denial expressed, with attributional style being the most consistent form of denial present in all groups. The authors conclude that denial consists of at least two continuous dimensions, rather than being a dichotomous phenomenon. Differences in the patterns of denial displayed by rapists and child molesters were found to be primarily quantitative rather than qualitative.