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Two clusters of child molesters based on impulsiveness
Danilo A Baltieri1, Douglas P Boer2
1Sexual Disorders Outpatient Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
Revista Brasileira De Psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil : 1999)
|May 7, 2015
Summary
High impulsiveness in child molesters is linked to higher recidivism risk. Two distinct impulsiveness clusters were identified, suggesting tailored therapeutic interventions may be necessary for effective treatment.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Criminology
Background:
- High impulsiveness is a significant issue among criminal offenders, correlating with increased recidivism risk.
- Understanding impulsiveness profiles within specific offender populations, like child molesters, is crucial for risk assessment and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a cluster analysis of impulsiveness using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale - Version 11 (BIS-11) in a sample of child molesters.
- To identify distinct impulsiveness profiles within this population and examine their association with criminological and clinical factors.
Main Methods:
- A k-means cluster analysis was performed on data from 208 child molesters in Brazil, utilizing three factors from the BIS-11.
- The average silhouette width was used to determine the optimal number of clusters.
- Direct logistic regression analyzed the relationship between criminological and clinical features and the identified clusters.
Main Results:
- Two distinct clusters of impulsiveness were identified among child molesters.
- The cluster with higher impulsiveness also exhibited elevated scores on the Sexual Screening for Pedophilic Interests (SSPI), Static-99, and Sexual Addiction Screening Test.
Conclusions:
- Child molesters represent a heterogeneous group regarding impulsiveness.
- Offenders with higher motor, attentional, and non-planning impulsiveness, as indicated by SSPI "number of victims," may require specific therapeutic approaches.
- Findings suggest differentiated therapeutic management, potentially combining psychosocial strategies with pharmacological interventions for the most impulsive cluster.