Defense Styles of Pedophilic Offenders
Martin Drapeau1*,
Véronique Beretta2,
Yves de Roten2,
Annett Koerner3,
and
Jean-Nicolas Despland2
1 McGill University, Montreal, Canada
2 University of Lausanne, Switzerland
3 University of Freiburg, Germany
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: martin.drapeau{at}mcgill.ca.
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Abstract |
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This pilot study investigated the defense styles of pedophile sexual offenders. Interviews with 20 pedophiles and 20 controls were scored using the Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales. Results showed that pedophiles had a significantly lower overall defensive functioning score than the controls. Pedophiles used significantly fewer obsessional-level defenses but more major image-distorting and action-level defenses. Results also suggested differences in the prevalence of individual defenses where pedophiles used more dissociation, displacement, denial, autistic fantasy, splitting of object, projective identification, acting out, and passive aggressive behavior but less intellectualization and rationalization.
