Neuropsychological correlates in sexual and non-sexual offenders

Abstract

In an attempt to replicate the findings of Yeudall et al.(1986) (Cited in Flor-Henry, 1987) the three neuropsychological measures which most significantly differentiated sex offenders from normal controls in that study (i.e., Coloured Progressive Matrices, Trail Making B, Williams Verbal Learning Test) were administered to three groups of subjects. An experimental group consisting of a homogeneous group of convicted sex offenders (child molesters) was compared to a group of non-violent non-sex prison controls as well as to a group of normal controls. Several background measures were also administered to all subjects to control for the effects of variables related to neuropsychological test performance. Results indicated that when the effects of the background variables were not included in the analyses the findings were in accord with those of Yeudall et al. (1986). On both the Coloured Progressive Matrices and Williams Verbal Learning Test the sex offenders scored significantly lower than normal controls. No differences were found between sex offenders and prison controls on any of these measures. When the effects of the background variables were controlled for, no differences emerged between any of the groups on any of the neuropsychological measures. The results do not support Flor-Henry's (1980, 1987) neuropsychological theory as to the etiology of the paraphilias.