A comparison of sexual abuse histories of sexual offender and nonsexual offender inmates was undertaken. Sixty-five male subjects were interviewed and given questionnaires regarding their own sexual abuse histories and their family backgrounds. Eighteen of 29 rapists (62%), 8 of 16 child molesters (50%), and 4 of 20 nonsexual offender inmates (20%) were classified as having been sexually abused, with sexual offenders being more likely to report having been abused. A history of sexual abuse appears to be an important factor in the backgrounds of sexual offenders and it was found to be associated with other aspects of a disturbed family background.
Brannon, J.M., Larson, B., & Doggett, M. (1989). The extent and origins of sexual molestation and abuse among incarcerated adolescent males. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 33, 161-172.
2.
Faller, K.C. (1989). Why sexual abuse? An exploration of the intergenerational hypothesis. Child Abuse and Neglect, 13, 543-548.
3.
Finkelhor, D. (1986). Abusers: Special topics. In D. Finkelhor (Ed.), Sourcebook on child sexual abuse (pp. 119-142). Beverley Hills, CA: Sage.
4.
Gordon, A., Holden, R., & Leis, T. (1991). Matching and treating sex offenders: Matching risk and needs with programming. Forum on Corrections Research , 3, 7-11.
5.
Groth, A.N. (1979). Sexual trauma in the life histories of rapists and child molesters. Victimology, 4, 10-16.
6.
Hanson, R.K., & Slater, S. (1988). Sexual victimization in the history of child sexual abusers: A review. Annals of Sex Research, 1, 485-499.
7.
Hunter, M. (1990). The sexually abused male: Prevalence, impact and treatment. Lexington, MA: D.C. Heath .
8.
Kaufman, J., & Ziegler, E. (1987). Do abused children become abusive parents? American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57, 186-192.
9.
Langevin, R., Wright, R., & Handy, L. (1989). Characteristics of sex offenders who were sexually victimized as children. Annals of Sex Research, 2, 227-253.
10.
Peters, S.D., Wyatt, G.E., & Finkelhor. D. (1986). Prevalence. In D. Finkelhor (Ed.), Sourcebook on child sexual abuse (pp. 15-59). Beverley Hills, CA: Sage.
11.
Prentky, R.A., Knight, R.A., Sims-Knight, J.E., Strauss, H., Rokous, F., & Cerce, D. (1989). Developmental antecedents of sexual aggression . Development and Psychopathology, 1, 153-169.
12.
Russell, D.E.H. (1983). The incidence and prevalence of intrafamilial sexual abuse of female children. Child Abuse and Neglect, 7, 133-146.
13.
Seghorn, T.K., Prentky, R.A., & Boucher, R.J. (1987). Childhood sexual abuse in the lives of sexually aggressive offenders. Journal of American Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 26, 262-267.
14.
Smith, W.R. (1989). Delinquency and abuse among juvenile sexual offenders . Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 3, 400-413.
15.
Wyatt, G.E. (1985). The sexual abuse of Afro-American and White-American women in childhood. Child Abuse and Neglect, 2, 507-519.
