In this study, attachment theory was applied to three samples: male university students (controls), male nonoffending victims of sexual assault, and convicted male pedophiles. Adult attachment styles are investigated along with developmental histories of neglect, punishment, and sexual and physical abuse. It is proposed that adult attachment styles will differ among the pedophiles and the other two groups, and the duration of participants’ adult sexual relationships would vary with the amount of sexual and other trauma that they reported experiencing as young people. If these were confirmed, it would indicate that attachment style was a significant factor in the developmental history of pedophiles and male victims of sexual assault. The results of this study indicated that the victims and controls experienced more security of attachment than the pedophiles, who were found to have an insecure attachment style. Victims and pedophiles were found to have experienced similar levels of early abuse and trauma.
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