Men with intellectual disabilities with a history of sexual offending: empathy for victims of sexual and non-sexual crimes

Hockley, O. J. and Langdon, P. E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7745-1825 (2015) Men with intellectual disabilities with a history of sexual offending: empathy for victims of sexual and non-sexual crimes. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 59 (4). pp. 332-341. ISSN 0964-2633

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Abstract

Background: The objectives were (a) to compare the general empathy abilities of men with intellectual disabilities (IDs) who had a history of sexual offending to men with IDs who had no known history of illegal behaviour; and (b) to determine whether men with IDs who had a history of sexual offending had different levels of specific victim empathy towards their own victim, in comparison with an unknown victim of sexual crime, and a victim of non-sexual crime, and make comparisons with non-offenders. Methods: Men with mild IDs (n = 35) were asked to complete a measure of general empathy and a measure of specific victim empathy. All participants completed the victim empathy measure in relation to a hypothetical victim of a sexual offence, and a non-sexual crime, while additionally, men with a history of sexual offending were asked to complete this measure in relation to their own most recent victim. Results: Men with a history of sexual offending had significantly lower general empathy, and specific victim empathy towards an unknown sexual offence victim, than men with no known history of illegal behaviour. Men with a history of sexual offending had significantly lower victim empathy for their own victim than for an unknown sexual offence victim. Victim empathy towards an unknown victim of a non-sexual crime did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusions: The findings suggest that it is important include interventions within treatment programmes that attempt to improve empathy and perspective-taking.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Part of Special Issue: Mental Health and Intellectual Disability: XXIXIII Research Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
Uncontrolled Keywords: sdg 16 - peace, justice and strong institutions ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/peace_justice_and_strong_institutions
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 25 Jul 2023 09:30
Last Modified: 31 Jul 2023 00:11
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/92668
DOI: 10.1111/jir.12137

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