Personality Traits And Social Competence Of The Offenders Against Children

Abstract

The aim of the present study aims to find out whether preferential child molesters differ from situational child molesters in terms of the level of the Big Five personality traits, self-esteem and social competence, as well as relations between them. The group of preferential molesters consisted of 55 men convicted of sexual offences against children and diagnosed with pedophilia. The group of situational molesters consisted of 50 convicts without such a diagnosis. NEO-Five-Factor Inventory, Multidimensional Self-Esteem Inventory (MSEI) and Social Competence Questionnaire (KKS) were used in the study. Significant differences between the groups were found in the dimension of agreeableness, selfassessment in terms of likability and moral selfacceptance, the general level of social competence and the competence that determines effective behaviour in intimate situations. The preferential offenders scored lower on all scales. Extraversion turned out to be the best predictor of social competence in both groups. In conclusion it turned out that except for several traits, preferential offenders do not differ significantly from one another. Such knowledge can be used in dealing with the perpetrators - both with regard to criminal offences, as well as therapeutic interactions.