Consistency in the behavioral patterns of serial rapists
Item
-
Title
-
Consistency in the behavioral patterns of serial rapists
-
Identifier
-
d_2009_2013:7d314f194eca:10006
-
identifier
-
10117
-
Creator
-
Park, Jisun,
-
Contributor
-
Louis B. Schlesinger
-
Date
-
2009
-
Language
-
English
-
Publisher
-
City University of New York.
-
Subject
-
Clinical psychology | Behavioral psychology | Criminology | behavior | behavioral consistency | rape | serial offender
-
Abstract
-
There have been few studies that fully address the question of whether serial rapists remain behaviorally consistent throughout their multiple crimes. Based on crime-scene behaviors, the present study aimed to differentiate behavioral patterns of rape, determine the degree of consistency of each of the behavioral patterns, and establish the link between behavioral patterns and offender background characteristics. A total of 795 offenses perpetrated by 254 male rapists committed to the Massachusetts Treatment Center (MTC) for Sexually Dangerous Persons were analyzed. By conducting weighted smallest space analysis, sixteen variables detailing behaviors at rape crime scenes were differentiated into four behavioral patterns: hostility, interpersonal involvement, control, and sadism. Examining behavioral patterns displayed across offenses by using item response theory analyses, the present study showed that serial rapists may not necessarily remain behaviorally consistent throughout their multiple crimes. The results from Ordinary Least Squares regression analysis revealed that each of the behavioral patterns was associated with certain offender background characteristics. Finally, practical implications of the results were discussed.
-
Type
-
dissertation
-
Source
-
2009_2013.csv
-
degree
-
Ph.D.
-
Program
-
Psychology
