The purpose of this study was to differentiate between three types of child sexual offenders—pedophiles, hebophiles, and incest offenders. The sample consisted of 168 convicted sex offenders. The data for the study were gathered from presentence investigation reports used by the court for sentencing proceedings. Using multiple discriminant analysis, eight independent variables were found to significantly discriminate between the three types of sex offenders almost 90% of the time. These variables were sexually victimized as a child, prepubertal victim, seduction motive, age-appropriate relationships, stress, own child as victim, social facade, and anger. Suggestions were made to probation and parole officers in the use of this information.
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