Patterns of Affective Responses in Two Groups of Pedophiles

Abstract

A sample of 143 persons who were on probation or parole who had a history of child molesting were selected and compared with a sample of 215 pedophiles who were selected from a large state hospital. They were then compared on the basis of rating scales for 25 word pairs which were similar to words used by Osgood, et al. (1957) in the study of the semantic differential. The factors derived from the ratings of pedophiles in the community reflected their need to present good stereotypes and acceptable facades. The factors derived from the analysis of patients in an institution seemed to be related to reactions to individual and group therapy treatment. No over-all stereotype of pedophiles' reactions seemed to emerge; rather, the factor structure seemed to be associated with the social climate in which the members of each group were living.