NCJ Number
134027
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 17 Issue: 1/2 Dated: (1991) Pages: 77-85
Date Published
1991
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A sample of over 100 child molesters was administered the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and the California Psychological Inventory at the time of incarceration and upon release in order to evaluate any change in their scores. While in prison, all subjects completed a treatment program designed to increase accountability for sexual deviance and other behaviors, increase self-understanding, reduce recidivism risks, improve social skills, and identify skills to use in high-risk situations.
Abstract
Though significant, the changes in the MMPI were modest; there were decreases on scales L, D, Hy, Pt, and Si. The changes in the CPI scores were more robust, revealing increases on scales Do, Cs, Sy, Sp, Sa, So, Ie, In, Em, V1, and V3. Subjects reported themselves to be more extroverted and interested in social relationships at the time of release; these results may be due to the heavy emphasis in treatment on social skills and interpersonal relationships. Increases in socialization suggest a greater internalization of social norms; however, the group still remained a full standard deviation below the norm for the standardization sample. Socialization and responsibility scores for the subjects were most discrepant from the normative mean; these scales have been found to be the lowest among general offender populations. Incarceration and treatment may be less likely to affect these characteristics. 2 tables and 11 references