The cognitive distortions of sexual offenders are considered to be influential in the etiology and maintenance of deviant sexual behavior and are commonly accepted as valid predictors of treatment potential and success, despite the lack of systematic research to support these assumptions. Contributing to this gap in the research is the shortage of psychometrically sound assessment techniques to measure these cognitive distortions. The present paper describes the development and validation of two distinct measures, the MOLEST and RAPE Scales, designed to respectively assess the cognitive distortions of child molesters and rapists. Results indicate that the MOLEST and RAPE Scales are promising clinical and research measures, demonstrating strong internal consistency and reliability, convergent and discriminative validity, freedom from a socially desirable response bias, and utility in assessing the efficacy of a cognitive restructuring treatment component. Furthermore, sexual offenders' cognitive distortions as assessed by the MOLEST and RAPE Scales were found to be related to the number of victims and duration of sexually assaultive behavior.
Abel, G., Becker, J., & Cunningham-Rathner, J. (1984). Complications, consent, and cognitions in sex between children and adults. Intemational Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 7, 89-103.
2.
Abel, G.G., Gore, D.K., Holland, C.L., Camp, N., Becker, J.V., & Rathner, J. (1989). The measurement of the cognitive distortions of child molesters. Annals of Sex Research, 2, 135-153.
3.
Barbaree, H.E. (1991). Denial and minimization among sex offenders: Assessment and treatment outcome. Forum on Corrections Research, 3, 30-33.
4.
Bumby, K.M. (1992, October). Beliefs in rape myths and cognitive distortions about child molestation within a non-offending sample. Presented at the Eleventh Annual Conference of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, Portland, OR.
5.
Burt, M. (1980). Cultural myths and supports for rape. Joumal of Personality and Social Psychology, 38, 217-230.
6.
Burt, M. (1984). Justifying personal violence: A comparison of rapists and the general public. rictimology. An International Journal, 8(3-4), 131-150.
7.
Burt, M., & Albin, R. (1981). Rape myths, rape definitions, and probability of conviction. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 11(3), 212-230.
8.
Conte, J. (1985). Clinical dimensions of adult sexual abuse of children . Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 3(4), 341-354.
9.
Cortoni, E., Gordon, A., Malcom, B., & Ellerby, L. (1991). The attitudes toward sex with children scale: Preliminary results. Canadian Psychology, 23, 229.
10.
Crowne, D.P., & Marlowe, D. (1960). A new scale of social desirability independent of psychopathology. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 24, 349-354.
11.
Crowne, D.P., & Marlowe, D. (1964). The approval motive: Studies in evaluation dependehee . New York: Wiley.
12.
Feild, H.S. (1978). Attitudes toward rape: A comparative analysis of police, rapists, crisis counselors, and citizens. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36, 156-179.
13.
Gilbert, B.J., Heesacker, M., & Gannon, L.J. (1991). Changing the sexual aggression-supportive attitudes of men: A psychoeducational intervention. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 38, 197-203.
14.
Groth, A.N. (1979). Men who rape: The psychology of the offender. New York: Plenum Press.
15.
Hanson, R.K., Gizzarelli, R., & Scott, H. (1994). The attitudes of incest offenders: Sexual entitlement and acceptance of sex with children. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 21, 187-202.
16.
Harrison, P.J., Downes, J., & Williams, M.D. (1991). Date and acquaintance rape: Perceptions and attitude change strategies. Journal of College Student Development, 32, 131-139.
17.
Malamuth, N.M. (1984). Aggression against women: Cultural and individual causes. In N. M. Malamuth & E. Donnerstein (Eds.), Pomography and sexual aggression (pp. 19-51). New York: Academic Press.
18.
Marolla, J., & Scully, S. (1986). Attitudes toward women, violence, and rape: A comparison of convicted rapists and other felons. Deviant Behavior, 7, 337-355.
19.
Marques, J.K., Day, D.M., Nelson, C., & West, M.A. (1994). Effects of cognitive-behavioral treatment on sex offender recidivism: Preliminary results of a longitudinal study. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 21, 28-54.
20.
Marshall, W.L. (1994). Treatment effects on denial and minimization in incarcerated sex offenders. Behaviour Research and Therapy , 32, 559-564.
21.
Marshall, W.L., Laws, D.R., & Barbaree, H.E. (1990). Issues in sexual assault . In W L. Marshall, D. R. Laws, & H. E. Barbaree (Eds.), Handbook of sexual assault: Issues theories, and treatment of the offender (pp. 3-7). New York: Plenum Press.
22.
Marshall, W.L., & Pithers, W.D. (1994). A reconsideration of treatment outcome with sex offenders. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 21, 10-27.
23.
Marshall, W.L., Jones, R., Ward, T., Johnston, P., & Barbaree, H.E. (1991). Treatment outcome with sex offenders. Clinical Psychology Review, 11, 465-485.
24.
Muehlenhard, C.L., & Linton, M.A. (1987). Date rape and sexual aggression in dating situations: Incidence and risk factors. Journal of Counseling Psychology , 34, 186-196.
25.
Murphy, W.D. (1990). Assessment and modification of cognitive distortions in sex offenders. In W L. Marshall, D. R. Laws, & H. E. Barbaree (Eds.), Handbook of sexual assault: Issues, theories, and treatment of the offender (pp. 331-342). New York: Plenum Press.
26.
Nichols, H.R., & Molinder, I. (1984). Multiphasic Sex Inventory manual. A test to assess the psychosexual characteristics of the sexual offender Tacuma, WA: Nichols & Molinder .
27.
Nichols, H.R., & Molinder, I. (1992). Research findings and clinical use of the Multiphasic Sex Inventory II. Presented at the 11th Annual Research and Treatment Conference of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, Portland, OR, Oct.
28.
Pithers, W.D. (1994). Process evaluation of a group therapy component designed to enhance sex offenders' empathy for sexual abuse survivors. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 32, 565-570.
29.
Pollack, N.L., & Hashmall, J.M. (1991). The excuses of child molesters . Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 9, 53-59.
30.
Saunders, D.G. (1991). Procedures for adjusting self reports of violence for social desirability bias. Journal of Interpersonal Violence , 6, 336-344.
31.
Segal, Z.V., & Stermac, L.E. (1984). A measure of rapists' attitudes toward women. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 7, 437-440.
32.
Spence, J.T., Losoff, M., & Robbins, A.S. (1991). Sexually aggressive tactics in dating relationships : Personality and attitudinal correlates. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 10, 289-304.
33.
Stermac, L.E., & Segal, Z.V. (1989). Adult sexual contact with children: An examination of cognitive factors. Behavior Therapy, 20, 573-584.
34.
Stermac, L.E., Segal, Z.V., & Gillis, R. (1990). In W. L. Marshall, D. R. Laws, & H. E. Barbaree (Eds.), Handbook of sexual assault: Issues, theories, and treatment of the offender (pp. 143-159). New York: Plenum Press.
35.
Yochelson, S., & Samenow, S. (1977). The Criminal Personality. Vol. 2. A profile for change. New York: Jason Aronson .
