PSYCHOSOCIAL CORRELATES OF MALE SEXUAL AGGRESSION IN A CHRONIC DELINQUENT SAMPLE

Theory and previous studies have suggested that sexual aggression in j uveniles is associated with past sexual victimization, deficits in soc ial competence, and high levels of neurotic symptoms. This study exami ned these and other variables as potential correlates of sexual aggres sion in a sample of 210 chronic delinquents that included 24 arrested sex offenders, 26 self-reported sexual offenders, 106 nonsexual violen t offenders, and 54 low-violence controls. Arrested and self-reported sex offenders differed only with respect to sexual victimization, with arrested offenders being more likely to report victimization by a mal e perpetrator. The combined sex offender group differed from the low-v iolence control group on several variables; the former reported greate r exposure to serious physical abuse and to domestic violence involvin g weapons, attitudes more accepting of sexual and physical aggression, and more use of aggressive control seeking in response to stress. imp lications of these findings for rehabilitation and treatment programs are discussed.