Criminal Justice and Behavior · 2007 · 103 citations · 57 references
Social SciencesCriminologyPsychologyForensic PsychologySexual OffensesSocial CognitionChild AbuseChild MaltreatmentChild Sexual AbusePsychological TestingSexual AbuseSexual Offending AssessmentAdolescent Sexual Offender AssessmentChild Sexual Abuse Risk AssessmentChild Sexual VictimizationImplicit Social CognitionIndirect Behavioral AssessmentSex Offender Risk AssessmentSexual Offense Risk AssessmentSexual Recidivism Prediction
The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is adapted to measure cognitions regarding self and children in 27 male child molesters and 29 male nonsexual offenders. As expected, child molesters view children as more sexually attractive than do nonsexual offenders. Among the child molesters, viewing children as more sexually attractive is associated with greater risk of sexual recidivism as measured by the Static-99. Viewing children as more powerful is associated with greater risk of sexual recidivism as measured by the Rapid Risk Assessment for Sexual Offense Recidivism. Although not all hypotheses are supported, this study demonstrates that the IAT has much promise as a tool with which to study cognitions associated with sexual abuse of children.
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