Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-ndmmz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-02T04:56:37.691Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Assessment of Rapists

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2014

Tony Ward ,
Stephen M. Hudson  and
Julie McCormack
Tony Ward*
Affiliation:
University of Canterbury
Stephen M. Hudson
Affiliation:
University of Canterbury
Julie McCormack
Affiliation:
University of Canterbury
*
Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
Get access

Abstract

The assessment of sexual aggression presents many difficulties for clinicians. The tendency of offenders to minimise or deny their offending, and their frequent distrust of mental health professionals, require high levels of skill to circumvent. In addition, the multifactorial nature of rape means that assessment needs to cover a broad range of content areas and utilise a number of different methods. In this paper we suggest that a comprehensive assessment should inquire into the developmental history of rapists, social competency, attitudes and beliefs about women and sexual crimes, sexual knowledge, sexual preferences and disorders, empathy, offence variables, psychiatric history, and substance abuse. The clinical interview remains the primary method of information acquisition, and needs to be tailored to match the particular interpersonal style of rapists. The use of psychometric and physiological measures are also valuable sources of clinical data.

Type
Research Article
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 14 , Issue 1 , March 1997 , pp. 39 - 54
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Abbey, A. (1991). Acquaintance rape and alcohol consumption on college campuses: How are they linked? Journal of American College Health, 39, 165–169.Google Scholar
Barbaree, H.E. (1991). Denial and minimization among sex offenders: Assessment and treatment outcome. Forum on Corrections Research, 3, 30–33.Google Scholar
Barbaree, H.E., & Marshall, W.L. (1991). The role of male sexual arousal in rape: Six models. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 621–630.Google Scholar
Barbaree, H.E., Marshall, W.L., & Lanthier, R.D. (1979). Deviant sexual arousal in rapists. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 17, 215–222.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bard, L.A., Carter, D.L., Cerce, D.D., Knight, R.A., Rosenberg, R., & Schneider, B. (1987). A descriptive study of rapists and child molesters: Developmental, clinical, and criminal characteristics. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 5, 203–220.Google Scholar
Barlow, D.H., Abel, G.G., Blanchard, E.B., Bristow, A.R., & Young, D.L. (1977). A heterosexual skills behavior checklist for males. Behavior Therapy, 8, 229–239.Google Scholar
Bartol, C. (1991). Criminal behavior: A psychosocial approach. NJ: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
Berner, W., Berger, P., Gutierez, K., Jordan, B., & Berger, J. (1992). The role of personality disorder in the treatment of sexual offenders. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 18, 25–37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blader, J.C., & Marshall, W.L. (1989). Is assessment of sexual arousal in rapists worthwhile? A critique of current methods and the development of a response compatibility approach. Clinical Psychology Review, 9, 569–587.Google Scholar
Blaske, D.M., Borduin, C.M., Henggeler, S.W., & Mann, B.J. (1989). Individual, family and peer characteristics of adolescent sex offenders and assaultive offenders. Developmental Psychology, 25, 846–855.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brownmiller, S. (1975). Against our will: Men, women, and rape. New York: Simon & Schuster.Google Scholar
Bumby, K.M., & Marshall, W.L. (1994, 10). Loneliness and intimacy deficits among incarcerated rapists and child molesters. Paper presented at the 13th Annual Research and Treatment Conference of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, San Francisco.Google Scholar
Burt, M.R. (1980). Cultural myths and supports for rape. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 38, 217–130.Google Scholar
Carter, D.L., Prentky, R.A., Knight, R.A., Vanderveer, P.L., & Boucher, R.J. (1987). Use of pornography in the criminal and developmental histories of sexual offenders. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2, 196–211.Google Scholar
Check, J.V.P. (1985). The Hostility Towards Women Scale. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Manitoba.Google Scholar
Check, J.V.P. & Malamuth, N.M. (1983). Sex role stereo-typing and reactions to depictions of stranger versus acquaintance rape. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45, 344–356.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crowne, D.P., & Marlowe, D. (1960). A new scale of social desirability independent of psychopathology. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 24, 349–354.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davis, M.H. (1980). A multidimensional approach to individual differences in empathy. JSAS, Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 10, 85.Google Scholar
Davis, M.H. (1983). Measuring individual differences in empathy: Evidence for a multidimensional approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44, 113–126.Google Scholar
Deitz, S.R., Blackwell, K.T., Daley, P.C., & Bentley, B.J. (1982). Measurement of empathy toward rape victims and rapists. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 43, 372–384.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Descutner, C., & Thelen, M.H. (1991). Development and validation of the Fear of Intimacy Scale. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 3, 218–225.Google Scholar
Dewhurst, A.M., Moore, R.J., & Alfano, D.P. (1992). Aggression against women by men: Sexual and spousal assault. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 18, 39–47.Google Scholar
Dhawan, S. & Marshall, W.L. (1996). Sexual abuse histories of sexual offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 8, 7–15.Google Scholar
Dougher, M.J. (1995). Clinical assessment of sex offenders. In Schwartz, B.K. & Cellini, H.R. (Eds.), The sex offender: Corrections, treatment and legal practice (pp. 11.1–11.13). NJ: Civic Research Institute.Google Scholar
Finklehor, D. (1984). Child sexual abuse: New theory and research. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
Goldstein, A.P. & Michaels, G.Y. (1985). Empathy: Development, training, and consequences. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Graham, J.R. (1987). The MMPI: A practical guide (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Groth, A.N., Burgess, A.W., & Holmstrom, L.L. (1977). Rape: Power, anger, and sexuality. American Journal of Psychiatry, 134, 1239–1243.Google Scholar
Groth, A.N., & Loredo, C.M. (1981). Juvenile sexual offenders: Guidelines for assessment. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 25, 265–272.Google Scholar
Gudjonsson, G. (1992). The psychology of interrogations, confessions and testimony. Chichester: Wiley.Google Scholar
Hall, G.C.N., & Hirschman, R. (1991). Towards a theory of sexual aggression: A quadripartite model. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 662–669.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hanson, R.K., Cox, B.C., & Woszczyna, C. (1991). Assessing treatment outcome for sexual offenders. Annals of Sex Research, 4, 177–208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hare, R.D., Harpur, T.J., Hakstian, A.R., Forth, A.E., Hart, S.D., & Newman, J.P. (1990). The Revised Psychopathy Checklist: Reliability and factor structure. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2, 338–341.Google Scholar
Hathaway, S.R. & McKinley, J.C. (1943). A multiphasic personality schedule (Minnesota): III. The measurement of symptomatic depression. Journal of Psychology, 14, 73–84.Google Scholar
Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1994). Attachment as an organisational framework for research on close relationships. Psychological Inquiry, 5, 1–22.Google Scholar
Hillbrand, M., Foster, H., & Hirt, M. (1990). Rapists and child molesters: Psychometric comparisons. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 19, 65–71.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hildebran, D.D., & Pithers, W.D. (1992). Relapse prevention: Application and outcome. In O'Donohue, W. & Geer, J.H. (Eds.), The sexual abuse of children: Vol. 2. Clinical issues (pp. 365–393). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Hobson, W.F., Boland, C., & Jamieson, D. (1985). Dangerous sexual offenders. Medical Aspects of Human Sexuality, 19, 104–123.Google Scholar
Hudson, S.M., Wales, D.S., & Ward, T. (in press). Kia Marama: A treatment program for child molesters in New Zealand. In Marshall, W.L., Hudson, S.M., Ward, T., & Fernandez, Y.M. (Eds.), Sourcebook of treatment programs for sexual offenders. New York: Plenum.Google Scholar
Hudson, S.M., & Ward, T. (1996). Relapse prevention: Future directions. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 8, 249–256.Google Scholar
Hudson, S.M., & Ward, T. (in press a). Attachment, anger, and intimacy in sexual offenders. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.Google Scholar
Hudson, S.M., & Ward, T. (in press b). Rape: Psychopathology and theory. In Laws, D.R.. & O'Donohue, W.T.. (Eds.), Handbook of sexual deviance: Theory and application. New York: Guilford.Google Scholar
Johnson, S.D., Gibson, L., & Linden, R. (1978). Alcohol and rape in Winnipeg, 1966–1975. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 39, 1887–1894.Google Scholar
Johnston, L., & Ward, T. (1996). Social cognition and sexual offending: A theoretical framework. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 8, 55–80.Google Scholar
Jones, J., & Muelenhard, C. (1990, 11). Using education to prevent rape on college campuses. Presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex, Minneapolis.Google Scholar
Knight, R.A., & Prentky, R.A. (1987). The developmental antecedents and adult adaptations of rapist subtypes. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 14, 403–426.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knight, R.A., & Prentky, R.A. (1990). Classifying sexual offenders: The development and corroboration of taxonomic models. In Marshall, W.L., Laws, D.R., & Barbaree, H.E. (Eds.), The handbook of sexual assault: Issues, theories, and treatment of the offender (pp. 23–52). New York: Plenum.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knight, R.A., Prentky, R.A., & Cerce, D.D. (1994). The development, reliability and validity of an inventory for the multidimensional assessment of sex and aggression. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 21, 72–94.Google Scholar
Knight, R.A., Rosenberg, R. & Schneider, B. (1985). Classification of sexual offenders: Perspectives, methods and validation. In Burgess, A. (Ed.), Rape and sexual assault: A research handbook (pp. 222–293). New York: Garland.Google Scholar
Koss, M.P. (1988). Hidden rape: Sexual aggression and victimisation in a national sample of students in higher education. In Burgess, A. (Ed.), Rape and Sexual Assault II (pp. 3–25). New York: Garland.Google Scholar
Koss, M.P., & Dinero, T.E. (1989). Predictors of sexual aggression among a national sample of male college students. In Prentky, R.A. & Quinsley, V.L. (Eds.), Human sexual aggression: Current perspectives (pp. 133–146) New York: New York Academy of Sciences.Google Scholar
Koss, M.P., & Gidycz, C.A. (1985). Sexual Experiences Survey: Reliability and validity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 422–423.Google Scholar
Koss, M.P., Leonard, K.E., Beezley, D.A., & Oros, C.J. (1985). Nonstranger sexual aggression: A discriminant analysis of the psychological characteristics of undetected offenders. Sex Roles, 12, 981–991.Google Scholar
Langevin, R. (Ed.). (1985). Erotic preference, gender identity and aggression in men. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Laws, D.R. (1984). The assessment of diverse sexual behaviors. In Howells, K. (Ed.), The psychology of sexual diversity (pp. 177–218). Oxford: Blackwell.Google Scholar
Laws, D.R., & Serber, M. (1975). Measurement and evaluation of assertiveness training with sexual offenders. In Hosford, R.E. & Moss, C.S. (Eds.), The crumbling walls: Treatment and counseling in prisons. Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press.Google Scholar
Lipton, D.N., McDonel, E.C., & McFall, R.M. (1987). Heterosocial perception in rapists. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 17–21.Google Scholar
Lisak, D., & Roth, S. (1990). Motives and psychodynamics of self-reported, unincarcerated rapists. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 60, 268–280.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Malamuth, N.M., & Check, J.V.P. (1983). Sexual arousal to rape depictions: Individual differences. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 92, 55–67.Google Scholar
Malamuth, N.M., Sockloskie, R., Koss, M.P., & Tanaka, J. (1991). The characteristics of aggressors against women: Testing a model using a national sample of college students. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 670–671.Google Scholar
Maletzky, B.M. (1991). Treating the sexual offender. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Maletzky, B. (1996). Denial of treatment or treatment of denial? Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 8, 1–5.Google Scholar
Marolla, J., & Scully, D. (1986). Attitudes toward women, violence, and rape: A comparison of convicted rapists and other felons. Deviant Behaviour, 7, 337–355.Google Scholar
Marques, J.K., Day, D.M., Nelson, C., & West, M.A. (1993). Findings and recommendations from California's experimental treatment program. In Hall, G.C.N., Hirschman, R., Graham, J.R., & Zaragoza, M.S. (Eds.), Sexual aggression: Issues in etiology, assessment, and treatment (pp. 197–214). Washington DC: Taylor & Francis.Google Scholar
Marques, J.K., Day, D.M., Nelson, C., & West, M.A. (1994). Effects of cognitive-behavioral treatment on sex offender recidivism: Preliminary results of a longitudinal study. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 21, 28–54.Google Scholar
Marshall, W.L. (1989). Invited essay: Intimacy, loneliness and sexual offenders. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 27, 491–503.Google Scholar
Marshall, W.L. (1994). Treatment effects on denial and minimizations in incarcerated sex offenders. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 32, 559–564.Google Scholar
Marshall, W.L. (1996). Assessment, treatment, and theorising about sex offenders. Criminal Justice and Behaviour, 23, 162–199.Google Scholar
Marshall, W.L., & Barbaree, H.E. (1989). Sexual violence. In Howells, K. & Hollin, C.R. (Eds.), Clinical approaches to violence (pp. 205–246). New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Marshall, W.L., & Barbaree, H.E. (1990). An integrated theory of the aetiology of sexual offending. In Marshall, W.L., Laws, D.R., & Barbaree, H.E. (Eds.), The handbook of sexual assault: Issues, theories, and treatment of the offender (pp. 257–275). New York: Plenum.Google Scholar
Marshall, W.L., Hudson, S.M., Jones, R., & Fernandez, Y.M. (1995). Empathy in sex offenders. Clinical Psychology Review, 15, 99–113.Google Scholar
McFall, R.M. (1982). A review and reformulation of the concept of social skills. Behavioral Assessment, 4, 1–33.Google Scholar
McGrath, R.J. (1991). Sex-offender risk assessment and disposition planning: A review of empirical and clinical findings. The International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 35, 328–350.Google Scholar
Millon, T. (1983). Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory manual (3rd ed.). Minneapolis, MN: National Computer Systems.Google Scholar
Muehlenhard, C.L., & Linton, M.A. (1987). Date rape and sexual aggression in dating situations: Incidence and risk factors. Journal of Counselling Psychology, 34, 186–196Google Scholar
Nichols, H.R., & Molinder, I. (1984). Multiphasic Sex Inventory. (Available from Nichols & Molinder, 437 Bowes Drive, Tacoma, WA 98466)Google Scholar
Overholser, C., & Beck, S. (1986). Multimethod assessment of rapists, child molesters, and three control groups on behavioural and psychological measures. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 55–63.Google Scholar
Paitich, D., Langevin, R., Freeman, R., Mann, K., & Handy, L. (1977). The Clarke SHQ: A clinical sex history questionnaire for males. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 6, 421–436.Google Scholar
Pithers, W.D. (1990). Relapse prevention with sexual aggressors: A method for maintaining therapeutic gains and enhancing external supervision. In Marshall, W.L., Laws, D.R., & Barbaree, H.E. (Eds.), Handbook of sexual assault: Issues, theories, and treatment of the offender (pp. 343–362). New York: Plenum.Google Scholar
Pollack, N.L., & Hashmall, J.M. (1991). The excuses of child molesters. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 9, 53–59.Google Scholar
Prentky, R.A., & Knight, R.A. (1991). Identifying critical dimensions for discriminating among rapists. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 643–661.Google Scholar
Prentky, R.A., Knight, R.A., Sims-Knight, J.E., Straus, H., Rokous, F., & Cerce, D. (1989). Developmental antecedents of sexual aggression. Development and Psychopathology, 1, 153–169.Google Scholar
Proulx, J., Aubut, J., McKibben, A., & Cöté, G. (1994). Penile responses of rapists and non-rapists to rape stimuli involving physical violence or humiliation. Archives of Sexual Behaviour, 23, 295–310.Google Scholar
Proulx, J., McKibben, A., Aubut, J., Côté, G., & Fournier, L. (1995). Relationship between rape indexes and personality disorders in incarcerated rapists. Manuscript under review.Google Scholar
Rapaport, K., & Burkhart, B.R. (1984). Personality and attitudinal characteristics of sexually coercive college mates. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 93, 216–221.Google Scholar
Rice, M.E., Chaplin, T.E., Harris, G.E., & Coutts, J. (1994). Empathy for the victim and sexual arousal among rapists and nonrapists. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 9, 435–449.Google Scholar
Rice, M.E., Harris, G.T., & Quinsey, V.L. (1990). A follow-up of rapists assessed in a maximum-security psychiatric facility. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 5, 435–448.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richardson, D.R., & Hammock, G.S. (1991). Alcohol and acquaintance rape. In Parrot, A. & Bechhofer, L. (Eds.), Acquaintance rape: The hidden crime. New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Rogers, R., & Dickey, R. (1991). Denial and minimisation among sex offenders: A review of competing models of deception. Annals of Sex Research, 4, 49–63.Google Scholar
Russell, D., Peplau, L.A., & Cutrona, CE. (1980). The revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 472–480.Google Scholar
Scott, R.L., & Tetreault, L.A. (1987). Attitudes of rapists and other violent offenders towards women. The Journal of Social Psychology, 127, 375–380.Google Scholar
Scully, D. (1988). Convicted rapists' perceptions of self and victim: Role taking and emotions. Gender and Society, 2, 200–213.Google Scholar
Seghorn, T.K., Prentky, R.A., & Boucher, R.J. (1987). Childhood sexual abuse in the lives of sexually aggressive offenders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 26, 262–267.Google Scholar
Seidman, B., Marshall, W.L., Hudson, S.M., & Robertson, P.J. (1994). An examination of intimacy and loneliness in sex offenders. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 9, 518–534.Google Scholar
Seto, M.C., & Barbaree, H.E. (1995). The role of alcohol in sexual aggression. Clinical Psychology Review, 15, 545–566.Google Scholar
Spence, J., Helmreich, R., & Stapp, J. (1973). A short version of the Attitudes Towards Women Scale. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 2, 219–220.Google Scholar
Spielberger, C.D. (1988). State–Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) professional manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.Google Scholar
Stermac, L.E. & Quinsey, V.L. (1986). Social competence among rapists. Behavioural Assessment, 8, 171–185.Google Scholar
Tingle, D., Barnard, G.W., Robbins, L., Newman., G., & Hutchinson, D. (1986). Childhood and adolescent characteristics of pedophiles and rapists. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 9, 103–116.Google Scholar
Ward, T., & Haig, B.D. (1996). Methodological reasoning in clinical psychology. Manuscript under review.Google Scholar
Ward, T., Hudson, S.M., & Marshall, W.L. (1996). Attachment style in sex offenders: A preliminary study. Journal of Sex Research, 33, 17–26.Google Scholar
Ward, T., Hudson, S.M., Marshall, W.L., & Siegert, R. (1995). Attachment style and intimacy deficits in sexual offenders: A theoretical model. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 7, 317–336.Google Scholar
Ward, T., Louden, , Hudson, S.M., & Marshall, W.L. (1995). A descriptive model of the offence chain for child molesters. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 10, 452–472.Google Scholar
Waring, E.M., & Reddon, J.R. (1983). The measurement of intimacy in marriage. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 39, 53–57.Google Scholar