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Characteristics of Child Molesters

Implications for the Fixated-Regressed Dichotomy

Temple University

BRUCE SALES

University of Arizona

ALFRED KASZNIAK

University of Arizona

MARVIN KAHN

University of Arizona

This study attempted to empirically validate the fixated-regressed typology used in the child sexual abuse literature. The sample consisted of 136 consecutive cases of convicted child molesters tried in Pima County, Arizona, over a 2-year period (1984-1985) for whom case history, MMPI, presentence reports, and police report data were collected prior to sentencing. Application of the criteria defining fixated versus regressed status yielded a unimodal and continuous distribution of child molesters rather than the bimodal distribution predicted by theory. In a multiple regression analysis, two independent variables (i.e., whether the victim and offender were related and an offender's prior non-sex-criminal record) significantly predicted an offender's degree of regression, and a third independent variable (i.e., offender age) approached significance. Alternative conceptualizations to the fixated-regressed typology are described, and implications for understanding child molesters are discussed.

Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 7, No. 2, 211-225 (1992)
DOI: 10.1177/088626092007002007


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