Personality impairment in male pedophiles.
BACKGROUND
Despite the large body of literature on the psychological sequelae of childhood sexual abuse, the literature on the psychopathology of pedophiles is surprisingly underdeveloped. The present article explores the hypothesis that pedophiles evidence deficits in interpersonal functioning (lack of assertiveness and empathy, passive-aggressiveness) and in self-concept, which might contribute to the motivation for pedophilic acts, as well as elevated sociopathy, impulsivity, and propensity for cognitive distortions, which might underlie the inhibitory failure.


METHODS
Twenty male heterosexual pedophiles (DSM-IV criteria) recruited from an outpatient clinic for sex offenders were compared with 24 demographically similar, healthy male controls using 3 personality instruments: the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II, the Dimensional Assessment of Personality Impairment-Questionnaire, and the Temperament and Character Inventory.


RESULTS
The data suggested that pedophiles have impaired interpersonal functioning, specifically, reduced assertiveness and elevated passive-aggressiveness, as well as impaired self-concept. Regarding disinhibitory traits, pedophiles demonstrated elevated sociopathy and propensity for cognitive distortions.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data are consistent with previous reports of pathologic personality traits in pedophiles and lend support to a hypothesis that such pathology is related to both motivation for and failure to inhibit pedophilic behavior. Such information could potentially have important treatment implications.
Cohen
Lisa J
LJ
Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY 10003, USA. Lcohen@bethisraelny.org
McGeoch
Pamela G
PG
Watras-Gans
Sniezyna
S
Acker
Sara
S
Poznansky
Olga
O
Cullen
Ken
K
Itskovich
Yelena
Y
Galynker
Igor
I
D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D010378:Pedophilia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011936:Reality Testing; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors