Parental bonding, adult romantic attachment, fear of intimacy, and cognitive distortions among child molesters.

Path models assessed different models of influential order for parental bonding; adult romantic attachment; views of self, world/others, and the future; the fear of intimacy; and cognitive distortions among child molesters and non-offending controls. Child molesters receiving sex offender treatment reported more problematic parental bonding; insecure adult romantic attachment; negative views of self, world/others, and the future; a greater fear of intimacy, and more cognitive distortions regarding adult-child sex. The predicted path models were not established as the models did not adequately fit the data. However, post hoc logistic regressions indicated that Maternal Optimal Bonding, Preoccupied attachment, and cognitive distortions regarding adult-child sex significantly predicted child molester status. Overall, the findings provide support for a multi-factorial model of child molestation derived from attachment theory. Limitations of the study and areas for future research are also discussed.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2007

Author dc:creator

• Wood, Eric

Contributors dc:contributor

• Riggs, Shelley
• Quinn, James
• Kelly, Kimberly S.
• Rogers, Richard, 1950-

• adult romantic attachment
• parental bonding
• cognitive distortion
• child molesters
• Child molesters -- Psychology.
• Parent and child.
• Attachment behavior.
• Intimacy (Psychology)

Statement dc:rights

• Public
• Copyright
• Wood, Eric
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 192074396
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3902/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc3902

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc3902