Self-esteem and parental attachments in child molesters

Marshall, William L.; Mazzucco, Agnes

doi:10.1007/bf02256832

Cited by 32 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As a consequence, we would expect such individuals to be significantly less able to empathize with others. Low scores on self-esteem measures have been found in groups of child molesters (Marshall, Christie, & Lanthier, 1979;Marshall & Mazucco, 1995) and low intimacy and loneliness have been found to be strongly correlated with selfesteem (Marshall, Champagne, Brown, & Miler, 1997). Marshall et al (1997) also reported a strong relationship between poor empathy and low self-esteem in their sample of child molesters.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Victim Empathy, Social Self-Esteem, and Psychopathy in Rapists

2003

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The purpose of the present study was to compare the responses of 27 incarcerated rapists and 27 incarcerated nonsexual offenders using the Rapist Empathy Measure (targeting victim specific empathy deficits) and to examine the relationship between empathy with self-esteem and psychopathy for both groups. The Social Self-Esteem Inventory was used as a measure of perceived social competence and the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R; Hare, 1991) was used as a measure of psychopathy. All participants completed the two self-report questionnaires on empathy and self-esteem; in addition, the rapists were required to complete an extra section of the empathy measure that assessed their empathic responses to their own victims. Demographic information and psychopathy scores were obtained by reviewing institutional files. When psychopathy scores were not available, subjects participated in a semi-structured interview and were scored on the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised by the researcher. Rapists demonstrated more empathy than the nonsexual offenders toward women in general and the same degree of empathy as the nonsexual offenders toward a woman who had been a victim of a sexual assault by another male. Of particular importance were the within-group comparisons across victim type for the rapists which revealed significant empathy deficits toward their own victim(s). Interestingly, no differences were found between the rapists and nonsexual offenders in terms of self-esteem and psychopathy, and neither self-esteem nor psychopathy significantly predicted empathy for either group. It was concluded from the present study that rapists may suppress empathy primarily toward their own victim rather than suffer from a generalized empathy deficit. It is suggested that empathy deficits in rapists might better be construed as cognitive distortions specific to their victims and should be addressed in that manner in treatment.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Victim Empathy, Social Self-Esteem, and Psychopathy in Rapists

2003

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It reinforces small changes, and involves some degree of self-disclosure by the therapist. A relationship of this sort should serve to enhance the client's self-esteem, but because we consider it to be so important, and our research supports this view (Marshall, Champagne, Brown, & Miller, 1995;Marshall & Mazzucco, 1995), we also use specific procedures intended to improve self-confidence.…”

Section: Confrontational Therapistsmentioning

confidence: 66%

The Sexual Offender: Monster, Victim, or EveMnan?1

Marshall

1996

Sex Abuse

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The nature of sexual offending is considered and it is concluded that offenders are more like other people than they are different. It is concluded that they are neither monsters nor victims and should, as a consequence, be treated like all other clients. Treatment implications are considered and it is suggested that we shift our focus away from a preoccupation with procedures and instead give attention to process features of treatment. Various therapist styles are discussed and it is proposed that a style that enhances the offender's self-esteem may be best. The value of this approach is outlined and tentative data are offered suggesting its value. Considerations for future developments are noted.

show abstract

“…… Child molesters imagine being confident and sexually assertive, although they are markedly unassertive in daily life. … Similarly, a lack of significant differences in passive fantasies may support the notion that child molesters maintain a position of power within imagined sexual situations, more often than nonsexual offenders, as a way of compensating for a lack of confidence, unassertiveness, and feelings of powerlessness” (Baumgartner et al, 2002, p. 26; see also Marshall & Barbaree, 1990; Marshall et al, 1995).…”

Section: Insecure Attachment Intimacy Problems and Deviant Sexual Fmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…A style of parenting involving low levels of care, consistency, supervision, and discipline and high levels of control, rejection, and neglect has been found to be highly prevalent among sexual offenders (Craissati, McClurg, & Browne, 2002; Marsa et al, 2004; McCormack, Hudson, & Ward, 2002). Most sexual offenders describe their parents as cold, distant, uncaring, indifferent, unsympathetic, rejecting, hostile, aggressive, or emotionally detached (Awad, Saunders, & Levene, 1984; Hazelwood & Warren, 1989; Marshall & Mazzucco, 1995; Smallbone & Dadds, 1998). In addition, it has been shown that rapists and pedophiles identify less with their mothers and fathers than do nonoffenders and nonsexual offenders (Levant & Bass, 1991).…”

Section: Parent–child Bonding and Child Attachment In Sexual Offendersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A number of theoretical models have proposed that an insecure attachment in childhood might be a risk factor for later sexual offending (see, e.g., Baker, Beech, & Tyson, 2006; Beech & Mitchell, 2005; Beech & Ward, 2004; Burk & Burkhart, 2003; Davis, 2006; Marshall & Barbaree, 1990; Marshall & Marshall, 2000; Ward & Beech, 2006). Furthermore, results of a number of studies have shown that sexual offenders are likely to report an insecure child attachment style to their parents (see, e.g., Marshall & Mazzucco, 1995; Marshall, Serran, & Cortoni, 2000), especially an avoidant attachment (see, e.g., Simons, Wurtele, & Durham, 2008; Smallbone & Dadds, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003).…”

Section: Parent–child Bonding and Child Attachment In Sexual Offendersmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Role of Parent–Child Bonding, Attachment, and Interpersonal Problems in the Development of Deviant Sexual Fantasies in Sexual Offenders

Maniglio

2012

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To understand the origin, development, and functions of deviant sexual fantasy in sexual offenders, the present article investigates three areas of the literature on sexual offenders (i.e., parent-child relationships, attachment, and interpersonal problems), hypothesizing a possible path through which dysfunctional parent-child relationships might lead to deviant sexual fantasies. The review of the literature provides indirect evidence that an insecure attachment style developed in response to dysfunctional parenting practices may generate feelings of inadequacy and inferiority to others and a lack of the self-confidence and social skills to initiate or maintain consensual intimate relationships with appropriate others. It is hypothesized that such problems, in turn, might promote low levels of intimacy and satisfaction in romantic relationships and serious and chronic emotional loneliness, withdrawal, and negative attitudes (such as anger and hostility) toward potential partners, leading to a progressive retirement from the real world and refuge in an internal world of deviant sexual fantasies in order to satisfy attachment-related needs for intimacy, emotional closeness, or power. Such a combination of insecure attachment, interpersonal problems, and use of deviant sexual fantasies as a means to achieve the intimacy, power, or control absent from reality might predispose to sexual offending.

show abstract

Self-esteem and parental attachments in child molesters

Cited by 32 publications

References 16 publications

Victim Empathy, Social Self-Esteem, and Psychopathy in Rapists

Victim Empathy, Social Self-Esteem, and Psychopathy in Rapists

The Sexual Offender: Monster, Victim, or EveMnan?1

The Role of Parent–Child Bonding, Attachment, and Interpersonal Problems in the Development of Deviant Sexual Fantasies in Sexual Offenders

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About