[Childhood in sex offenders; A retrospective study]

This retrospective and observational study is based on the hypothesis that sex offenders have experienced trauma and/or educational dysfunction which have a responsibility in theirs crimes of sexual type. The purpose of this study is to highlight these disturbances, develop a typology of sex offenders and offer a reflection on elements which allowed their acting out.

Two groups were selected. A group of 31 patients having committed criminal offences or murders and having been determined as mentally irresponsibles of their act (" Défense Sociale " in Belgium). This group was compared to a group of 31 patients consulting a general practitioner. A survey and a personal interview were used. Most of this questions came from Thomas Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (this questionnaire highlight psychiatric disorders or pathological behaviors in childhood). The inclusion criteria were: male patients major in social defense; single or series rape(s) (accompanied or not by murder); incest; pedophilia; intelligence quotient greater than or equal to 80 (determined by the scale WAIS).

The anova test results showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p ⟨ 0,00063). Several different profiles of rapists were established.

Indeed, patient group shows more trauma such as sexual abuse (9.8 times more) and physical abuse (3.1 times more) than the control group. Three factors were identified as a condition to an achieved rape: a pathological family dynamic, impaired impulse control and an empathic deficit.