The Measurment of the Cognitive Distortions of Child Molesters

Abstract

The measurement of the cognitive distortions of child molesters. Annals of Sex 2, 135-153. Two hundred and forty child molester paraphiliacs, 48 non-child molesting paraphiliacs and 86 non-paraphiliacs were administered a 29 item Likert scale of statements designed to determine: 1) if cognitive distortions concerning child molestation exist among child molesters and (2) if child molesters can be discriminated from non-child molesters by assessing their cognitive distortions. Factor analysis yielded six factors covering the general area of child molestation being harmful to the child. The factors were reliable and successfully separated child molesters from non-child molesters. Results confirmed that child molesters not only vary from non-child molesters by their behavior with children, but also by their cognitions or beliefs about the consequence of their child molestation behavior on the child.

Increasing Honest Responding on Cognitive Distortions in Child Molesters: The Bogus Pipeline Revisited

“…Such favourable discriminations have been found for other measures, including Abel et al's (1989) Abel and Becker Cognitions Scale (Hayashino, Wurtele, & Klebe, 1995;Stermac & Segal, 1989), and the Hanson Sex Attitudes Questionnaire (Hanson, Gizzarelli, & Scott, 1994). Other studies, however, have raised doubts about the discriminative ability of cognitive distortion measures (Abel et al, 1989;Fisher, Beech, & Browne, 1999;Tierney & McCabe, 2001). For example, Abel et al (1989) were unable to discriminate CMs from non-CM paraphilics on the Abel and Becker Cognitions Scale.…”

“…Other studies, however, have raised doubts about the discriminative ability of cognitive distortion measures (Abel et al, 1989;Fisher, Beech, & Browne, 1999;Tierney & McCabe, 2001). For example, Abel et al (1989) were unable to discriminate CMs from non-CM paraphilics on the Abel and Becker Cognitions Scale.…”

Do Child Molesters Deliberately Fake Good on Cognitive Distortion Questionnaires? An Information Processing-Based Investigation

“…Others have either found no significant differences (e.g., Tierney & McCabe, 2001), or reported cognitive distortion scores so low for child molesters that it would seem pointless employing a control group for comparison (Kolton, Boer, & Boer, 2001;Langevin, 1991). For example, Langevin (1991) found that, on average, 75% of child molesters undergoing a pretrial assessment picked the least distorted option (i.e., "strongly disagree") on the Abel and Becker Cognition Scale (Abel et al, 1989).…”

The Utility of the Diagnosis of Pedophilia: A Comparison of Various Classification Procedures

“…Factor analysis has indicated that the scale is one-dimensional (Abel et al, 1989;Hanson, Gizzarelli, & Scott, 1994). Scores range from 1 to 5, where lower scores are indicative of a greater degree of acceptance towards adult sexual contact with children.…”

“…Reliability is good, with an alpha coefficient of .92 for internal consistency (Hanson et al, 1994). A Pearson product-moment coefficient of .76 indicated good test-retest reliability (Abel et al, 1989).…”