Personality and Criminal Profile of Adolescent Sexual Offenders, General Offenders in Comparison to Nonoffenders

Abstract

16 adolescent male sex offenders and 13 general offenders were compared with 13 nonoffenders on psychometric tests to investigate differences in their general intelligence, personality, and criminal attitudes. There were no significant differences in general intelligence amongst the groups. Examination of personality scores and criminal attitudes showed that the sex offenders were more socially isolated, more assaultive, and more resentful than the general offenders. Present results, if replicated with larger samples, suggest treatment of adolescent sex offenders in a manner similar to that used in the treatment of adult sex offenders.