Rapists and child molesters: psychometric comparisons

The availability of psychosocial treatment for sex offenders is influenced to a considerable extent by the process of adjudication. Convicted rapists are usually incarcerated, and thus receive treatment in a high-structure setting. Convicted child molesters are usually paroled and receive treatment in the low-structure setting of outpatient psychotherapy. In the present study, three types of sex offenders (child molesters, child rapists, and adult rapists) were compared to examine the validity of the match between type of sex offender and type of treatment modality. No differences were found on factor-analytically derived psychological and social historical factor scores between child molesters and child rapists. Adult rapists, however, demonstrated considerably higher levels of pathology characterized by dysphoria, subjective distress, and inhibition, than child molesters and child rapists. The egodystonic psychopathology of the rapists suggests a more favorable prognosis.