Alcohol expectancies in convicted rapists and child molesters

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Previous findings suggest that cognitive factors and expectancies related to drinking can mediate subjective sexual arousal as well as aggression in men. Our aim was to investigate the drinking habits and alcohol-related expectancies that might predispose men to sexually aggress in two groups of sexual offenders. METHOD: Men convicted of rape (n = 10) were compared with men convicted of child molesting (n = 10) and with control subjects (n = 31). Current drinking habits (while not in prison) were assessed by self-report, and the extent of alcohol abuse was mapped by the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST; Selzer, 1971). Cognitive expectancies related to alcohol use were explored by the standard Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (AEQ; Brown et al., 1980). RESULTS: The majority of the men who committed rape (70%) but only a third of the men convicted of child molesting were diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. Alcohol abuse was common in men convicted of both rape and child molesting and the men convicted of rape expected significantly more positive effects from drinking than the control group. Both sex offender groups were the only groups to express significant alcohol-related cognitive expectancies linked to arousal and aggression. Expectancy patterns were directly linked to the antisocial personality characteristics. CONCLUSION: Alcohol abuse is common in men who commit both rape and child molesting. Heavy drinking and the anticipation of alcohol effects such as sexual enhancement, arousal and aggression may facilitate sexual aggression in offenders with antisocial personality disorder.

College Men’s and Women’s Respective Perceptions of Risk to Perpetrate or Experience Sexual Assault

“…In light of prior research documenting differences in global positive alcohol expectancies (Aromaki & Lindman, 2001; Menard et al, 2003) and alcohol expectancies regarding sexuality (McMurran & Bellfield, 2003; Palmer et al, 2010; Wilson et al, 2002) in sexually aggressive and nonsexually aggressive men, it was surprising that alcohol use or alcohol expectancies were not associated with men’s perceived likelihood to perpetrate any of the forms of sexual aggression in the multivariate models. Given the relatively low rates of perpetration among the current sample (12.6%), future research examining these constructs among samples of high-risk men (i.e., men with a history of sexual aggression, men who report heavy drinking) is warranted.…”

“…Specifically, if men expect to feel sexual or aggressive when intoxicated, they may attribute sexually aggressive actions to the effects of intoxication instead of taking responsibility for the behavior (George & Marlatt, 1986). In fact, compared with nonsexually aggressive men, sexually aggressive men expect that alcohol use will have a stronger global positive effect (Aromaki & Lindman, 2001; Menard, Hall, Phung, Ghebrial, & Martin, 2003). Sexually aggressive men are also more likely than nonsexually aggressive men to report that alcohol use will enhance their sexuality (McMurran & Bellfield, 2003; Palmer, McMahon, Rounsaville & Ball, 2010; Wilson, Calhoun, & McNair, 2002).…”

societal reaction to sex offenders: a review of the origins and results of the myths surrounding their crimes and treatment amenability

“…He also notes that ''risk changes over time, place and circumstances and effective management depends on being able to adapt risk assessment into a dynamic system' ' (1997:225). Offender beliefs about the use of alcohol are one such area that requires further study but may be effectively addressed by clinicians especially in conjunction with attempts to mitigate the impact of personality disorders (Aromäki and Lindman 2001). Nonetheless, actuarial methods can make a limited contribution to public safety.…”

Comparing serial and nonserial sexual offenders: alcohol and street drug consumption, impulsiveness and history of sexual abuse

“…10,15,16 Alcohol consumption can impair the abuser's capacity of interpreting the erotic signs of partners; besides, because of the alcohol-induced myopia, men can focus on immediate pleasure and less on social approbation. 17,18 This can mean that one-time offenders are more often under alcohol influence than serial sexual aggressors. 19 The personal history of being sexually abused in childhood among sexual offenders has been intensively studied by some authors.…”