A Comparison of Social Information Processing in Juvenile Sexual Offenders and Violent Nonsexual Offenders
Year: 2002
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This research examines the common clinical belief that juveniles who sexually offend are particularly socially isolated and deficient in social skills.Using a validated model of social information processing, potential social cognitive deficits are examined in incarcerated male juveniles with histories of sexual offending as compared with incarcerated male juveniles who committed violent, nonsexual crimes.Specifically, the social information-processing constructs of normative beliefs, hostile attributional bias, social goals, outcome expectancies, and social self-efficacy are explored in these two groups.Juvenile sexual offenders in this sample differ from nonsexual offenders only in the areas of social goals and outcome expectancies.Juveniles who have committed sexual offenses are more likely to rate dominance as a strong social goal in peer conflict situations, but are less likely to expect aggressive behavior to result in positive outcomes.As compared with nonsexual offenders, juvenile sexual offenders appear particularly motivated by their internal conflicts and desires.Treatment strategies addressing only interpersonal skills may not be effective for juveniles who sexually offend; rather, goals and motivations for behaviors must be targeted.
Author: Mary Katherine Davis-Rosanbalm
Institution: Ohio University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2574583093