Early Maladaptive Cognitive Schemas in Child Sexual Offenders Compared with Sexual Offenders against Adults and Nonsexual Violent Offenders: An Exploratory Study

IntroductionAlthough there is a growing body of research on the role of offense supporting cognitive distortions in child sexual offending, little is known about the origins of these distortions. According to cognitive theory, maladaptive cognitive schemas originating in adverse childhood experiences with caregivers have been hypothesized to underlie these cognitive distortions.AimThis exploratory study investigates early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) in child sexual offenders compared with sexual offenders against adults and nonsexual offenders.Main Outcome MeasuresEMSs were measured with the Young Schema Questionnaire, and psychopathy was measured with the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised.MethodsThree groups of forensic inpatients—23 child sexual offenders, 19 sexual offenders against adults, and 24 nonsexual violent offenders—were assessed. Multivariate analyses of covariance were used to examine the hypothesized group differences in EMSs.ResultsResults showed that, after controlling for level of psychopathy, EMSs related to Abandonment (M = 2.61 vs. M = 1.73, P < 0.01), Social Isolation (M = 2.50 vs. M = 1.62, P < 0.01), Defectiveness/Shame (M = 2.05 vs. M = 1.42, P < 0.05), Subjugation (M = 2.28 vs. M = 1.57, P < 0.05), and Self-Sacrifice (M = 3.29 vs. M = 2.41, P < 0.05) were more prevalent in child sexual offenders compared with nonsexual violent offenders. Compared with sexual offenders against adults, child sexual offenders showed a trend to have higher scores on EMSs related to Social Isolation (M = 2.50 vs. M = 1.88, P = 0.066).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that EMSs may play a role in offending behavior in child sexual offenders and offer the possibility of informing treatment strategies. Chakhssi F, de Ruiter C, and Bernstein DP. Early maladaptive cognitive schemas in child sexual offenders compared with sexual offenders against adults and nonsexual violent offenders: An exploratory study. J Sex Med 2013;10:2201–2210.