Reducing defensive responding on a self-report measure of cognitive distortions about adult-child sexual contact : a revision of the Abel and Becker cognitive scale

Abstract

Reports of the sexual assault of children have increased dramatically. The lack of tests to identify characteristics of the perpetrators other than the assaultive behavior itself has impeded both the research of child molesters and the identification of molesters who plead innocence. A principal problem in developing appropriate measures is the defensiveness of child molesters; perpetrators do not reveal their true attitudes and feelings about adult-child sex in order to appear socially desirable and to avoid punishment.

This thesis revised the Abel and Becker Cognitive Distortion (ABC) scale (Abel, Gore, Holland, Camp, Becker and Rathner, 1989) in order to reduce defensive responding. The methods employed to reduce response bias were: (a) the addition of "justifications", conditions, or provisos to items which represent cognitive distortions about adult-child sex to make them seem more socially desirable to perpetrators; (b) modifying the social desirability of the items; (c) varying the keying of the items; and, (d) mixing the critical items amongst items from other tests which measure attitudes toward women but which do not describe cognitions about adult-child sex. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)