RT Article
T1 Understanding Empathy, Self-Esteem, and Adult Attachment in Sexual Offenders and Partner-Violent Men
JF Journal of interpersonal violence
VO 36
IS 5/6
SP 2050
OP 2073
A1 Loinaz, Ismael
A2 Sánchez Vidal, Agustín 1948-
A2 Vilella, Andrea
LA English
YR 2021
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1750721376
AB The assessment and treatment of emotional variables is a priority in the rehabilitation of offenders. Although theoretical proposals suggest a clear relationship between violence and self-esteem, attachment, and empathy, the research carried out to date has reached contradictory results due mainly to differences in the measurements used, the reliability of self-reports, or even to problems with the definition of the constructs. The present study analyzed these three variables in a prison sample of sexual offenders (n = 48) and partner-violent men (n = 68), using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, the Rape Empathy Measure, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Adult Attachment Questionnaire. Results confirmed the low utility of nonspecific empathy, the predominance of high self-esteem, and the difficulty of identifying an insecure attachment. The implications of the use of these variables in the treatment of offenders, and the need to improve the assessment tools, are discussed.
K1 partner-violent men
K1 Sexual Offenders
K1 adult attachment
K1 Self-esteem
K1 Empathy
DO 10.1177/0886260518759977