Psychopathy, deviant sexual arousal, and recidivism among sexual offenders

A sample of 68 incarcerated sexual offenders for whom assessments of psycho pathy and sexual deviance were available were followed up postrelease for 7 years to determine (a) rates of recidivism, (b) discriminant and predictiv e ability of psychopathy and sexual deviance, and (c) degree of incremental predictive utility of grouping offenders based on extreme combinations of psychopathy and sexual deviance. The results confirm previous research, whi ch suggests that general recidivism and sex offender typologies are differe ntiated using information on psychopathy. Rapists and child molesters were differentiated based on measures of deviant sexual arousal. Although some o f the results are speculative with respect to the groups based on extreme c utoffs, the trends support this proposal. Those who displayed more psychopa thic characteristics and deviant sexual arousal recidivated soon er and at significantly higher rates. These results are discussed in terms of their i mplications for the provisions of assessment and intervention strategies an d for providing recommendations regarding prescriptive treatment.