Individual, Family, and Community Education ETDs

Publication Date

5-9-1978

Abstract

A descriptive case study relating to the phenomenological world of six child abused rapists was undertaken. The purpose of this study was to examine the self-perceptions of these child abused rapists. On the basis of these perceptions, six integrative typologies were constructed. Based on these typological constructions, a counseling model and treatment components for sex offenders were developed.

Methods of data collection included a semi-structured perceptual interview guide, a sentence completion instrument, and one standardized test. Interview data provided perceptions about the rapist's family history; physical, psychological, emotional, sexual, social, and intellectual development. Included were perceptions about his delinquency, as well as perceptions about the rape, victims, and incarceration. The sentence completion identified themes of fear and anger, and, in particular, unmet power needs. The Sex Knowledge and Attitude Test provided objective information about sexual attitudes, knowledge, and degree of sexual experience.

Abstracted elements from each case study formed the basis for the six typological constructions. These were based on David's (1974) theory of integrative criminal sociology and were the first of such to be constructed on child abused rapists.

The three interrelated dimensions, i.e., valuational, factual, and normative-cognitive, revealed an intersubjective world in which the child abused rapist experienced a stressful and abusive home. He had difficulty expressing feelings, had a poor self-concept, and was sexually frustrated. He was involved in delinquency, alcoholism, and/or drugs, and the rape victims were seen as targets for pent-up anger.

Based on commonalities abstracted from the case study perceptions and test data, treatment components for a sex offender residential community were developed on an integrative counseling model.

This study reveals the need for further research regarding the impact of somatosensory deprivation, abuse, and sex role stereotyping as they relate to rape. One area of research would be to select a population of child abused males who had characteristics similar to the subjects in this study and develop a program aimed at preventing rape.

Recommendations for further study include the need for examining personality dynamics and characteristics of abused and nonabused sex offenders as well as family-offender interactions. Research is definitely needed which would evaluate the degree of physical affection and pain in the parent/offspring relationship and to relate these variables to measures of human violence.

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Degree Name

Counseling

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Individual, Family, and Community Education

First Committee Member (Chair)

Marion Heisey

Second Committee Member

Pedro David

Third Committee Member

George Keppers

Fourth Committee Member

Marian Shelton

Comments

This dissertation has two volumes. Volume 2 includes appendices in supplementary files.

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