RT Article
T1 A path analytic approach to the validation of a taxonomic system for classifying child molesters
JF Journal of quantitative criminology
VO 5
IS 3
SP 231
OP 257
A1 Prentky, Robert A.
A2 Knight, Raymond A.
A2 Rosenberg, Ruth
A2 Lee, Austin
LA English
YR 1989
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1764276337
AB This study examined the validity of the most recent revision of a taxonomy for child molesters developed at the Massachusetts Treatment Center (MTC:CM3). The taxonomy is distinguished both from earlier versions of this system and from other systems, by three major changes: (a) the partitioning of the “regressed/fixated” dichotomy into two separate factors-level of social competence and degree of fixation on children, (b) the introduction of a new type (“narcissistic”) to fill an empirically determined gap between the object-related offender and the antisocial, exploitative offender, and (c) the differentiation of the violence in the sexual offense into nonsadistic and sadistic components. MTC:CM3 was used to classify 177 child molesters who were committed to the Treatment Center. Variables coded from the clinical files were rationally grouped according to developmental period and subjected to principal-components analysis (PCA). The PCA-derived components then were entered into a series of regression analyses. The resulting three path models indicated that the new subtypes created by the aforementioned refinements had distinct developmental courses and adult adaptations.
K1 Developmental Period
K1 Social Competence
K1 Major Change
K1 Analytic Approach
K1 Regression Analysis
DO 10.1007/BF01062739