Specific victim empathy in incarcerated sex offenders

Lori J Yost, Tennessee State University

Abstract

This study addresses the affects of an intervention on two groups of incarcerated rapists and child molesters, and the validity of the Victim Empathy and Remorse Self-Report Inventory (VERSRI; Carich and Adkerson, 2000). There was a significant increase in VERSRI and Empat-A scales following intervention in a sex offense rehabilitation program. There were no significant differences between the child molester and rapist offender groups on the empathy scales. In the participants, there were significant differences between the VERSRI and the Empat-A, and between the VERSRI and IRI-EC. Post hoc analyses found significant but modest positive relationships between VERSRI and each of the three empathy subscales. There were no significant correlations between VERSRI and the Sexual Social Desirability Scale-Acquiesence and Denial. Post hoc analyses found a significant but modest positive relationship between VERSRI and the SSDS-A, and between the VERSRI and the SSDS-D. Findings included a significant but modest relationship between the empathy subscales and the IRI-PD when controlling for SSDS. Post hoc analyses revealed significant partial positive correlations between the VERSRI, the Empat-A, and the IRI-EC, after having controlled for SSDS; there were no significant correlations between the IRI-PD and the VERSRI and the Empat-A, after having controlled for SSDS.

Subject Area

Psychology|Behaviorial sciences

Recommended Citation

Lori J Yost, "Specific victim empathy in incarcerated sex offenders" (2003). ETD Collection for Tennessee State University. Paper AAI3115308.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI3115308

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