Dervley, Rebekah
(2018)
Impulsivity in adult male sexual offenders.
DForenPsy thesis, University of Nottingham.
Abstract
This research thesis explored impulsivity in adult male sexual offenders. Low self-control and impulsivity are generally associated with criminality (e.g. Andrews & Bonta, 2006), as well as problematic sexual behaviour (Mick & Hollander, 2006). Meta-analyses have provided evidence that self-regulation deficits in sexual offenders are amongst the strongest predictors of recidivism (Hanson, Harris, Scott, & Helmus, 2007; Hanson & Morton-Bourgon, 2005). Researchers have suggested that exploring the construct of impulsivity within forensic populations might help enable identify specific re-offending risks and targets for intervention (Gordon & Egan, 2011; Egan, 2017).
The current research thesis provides a unique contribution to knowledge. Given the size of literature regarding the role of impulsivity in sexual offending, no single review was located which had compiled all available research into the psychometric and behavioural assessment of impulsivity within adult male sexual offenders. Chapter Two of this research helps fill the gap. As evidenced in Chapter Two, due to the inconsistencies amongst various conceptualisations of impulsivity, and the heterogeneous nature of the construct itself, multiple methods of assessing impulsivity exist (Whiteside & Lynam, 2001). Chapter Three critiques a relatively newer measure of impulsivity, the UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale (Lynam, Smith, Cyders, Fischer, & Whiteside, 2007), which reflects a more theoretical structuring of impulsivity than previous empirically derived measures. This chapter positioned the UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale as a viable option for the continued assessment of impulsivity in forensic populations, in-keeping with the need for a more theoretically informed and structured assessment of trait-based impulsivity. Chapter Four of this research thesis applied the UPPS-P, in addition to a measure of hypersexuality and offence-related sexual interests, to a sample of adult male Internet Sexual Offenders (ISOs). The role of impulsivity was further explored in Chapter Five, a single case study of an ISO. This thesis is concluded by a discussion chapter, which considers what was learned through each of the four individual chapters of the academic thesis. Consideration for how this knowledge might aid the development of more effective risk assessment, management, and prevention of further sexual abuse is given.
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