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Executive Function Profiles of Pedophilic and Nonpedophilic Child Molesters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 January 2011

Angela Eastvold ,
Yana Suchy  and
Donald Strassberg
Angela Eastvold*
Affiliation:
Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, James Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, Florida
Yana Suchy
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Donald Strassberg
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Angela Eastvold, PhD, James Haley Veteran's Administration, Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences, 116B, 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612. E-mail: aeastvold@gmail.com
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Abstract

There is increasing evidence of neurocognitive dysfunction among child molesters, supporting the notion of brain anomalies among pedophiles. However, approximately half of child molesters are not pedophilic (i.e., are not primarily attracted to children), and neurocognitive differences between pedophilic (PED) and nonpedophilic (NPED) child molesters are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to assess neurocognition, specifically executive functioning (EF), among phallometrically defined PED and NPED child molesters, relative to nonsexual offenders (NSO). Participants (N = 89) were compared on seven EF domains. Results revealed that (a) child molesters exhibited an overall executive profile that was different from that of NSOs, with PEDs differing from NSOs but not from NPEDs; (b) child molesters on the whole performed better than NSOs on abstract reasoning and more poorly on inhibition; and (c) PEDs performed better than NPEDs on planning and exhibited better overall performance accuracy relative to NPEDs. These results suggest that PEDs exhibit a more deliberate, planful response style characterized by greater self-monitoring; whereas NPEDs appear to respond more impulsively. The current report further elucidates neurocognition among child molesters and highlights the need for future research examining subtypes of child molesters. (JINS, 2011, 17, 295–307)

Keywords

Executive functioningResponse styleCognitivePedophilesCriminalsImpulsivityPlanning
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , 28 February 2011 , pp. 295 - 307
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2011

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