title: Early maladaptive cognitive schemas in child sexual offenders compared with sexual offenders against adults and nonsexual violent offenders: an exploratory study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although there is a growing body of research on the role of offense supporting cognitive distortions in child sexual offending, little is known about the origins of these distortions. According to cognitive theory, maladaptive cognitive schemas originating in adverse childhood experiences with caregivers have been hypothesized to underlie these cognitive distortions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This exploratory study investigates early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) in child sexual offenders compared with sexual offenders against adults and nonsexual offenders.
  
  
  METHODS
  EMSs were measured with the Young Schema Questionnaire, and psychopathy was measured with the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three groups of forensic inpatients-23 child sexual offenders, 19 sexual offenders against adults, and 24 nonsexual violent offenders-were assessed. Multivariate analyses of covariance were used to examine the hypothesized group differences in EMSs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that, after controlling for level of psychopathy, EMSs related to Abandonment (M = 2.61 vs. M = 1.73, P < 0.01), Social Isolation (M = 2.50 vs. M = 1.62, P < 0.01), Defectiveness/Shame (M = 2.05 vs. M = 1.42, P < 0.05), Subjugation (M = 2.28 vs. M = 1.57, P < 0.05), and Self-Sacrifice (M = 3.29 vs. M = 2.41, P < 0.05) were more prevalent in child sexual offenders compared with nonsexual violent offenders. Compared with sexual offenders against adults, child sexual offenders showed a trend to have higher scores on EMSs related to Social Isolation (M = 2.50 vs. M = 1.88, P = 0.066).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that EMSs may play a role in offending behavior in child sexual offenders and offer the possibility of informing treatment strategies.
authors: Forensic Psychiatric Centre de Rooyse Wissel, Conrisq Groep, Venray, Limburg, The Netherlands; Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands.
authors: Farid
authors: F
authors: Chakhssi
authors: Corine
authors: C
authors: de Ruiter
authors: David P
authors: DP
authors: Bernstein
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010378:Pedophilia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D012752:Shame; D012934:Social Isolation
keywords: Child Sexual Offenders; Cognitions; Cognitive Distortions; Early Maladaptive Schemas; Nonsexual Violent Offenders; Sexual Offenders against Adults