Psychopathy traits and parental dysfunction in sexual offending and general delinquent adolescent males

The failure to account for differences between adolescent males who offend against children and those who offend against peers may account for the similarities found between sexoffending samples and non-sexual delinquents. Psychopathy traits (grandiosity, impulsivity, lack of empathy, interpersonally exploitative and risk-taking) and antisocial behaviour, including behaviours and age of onset for delinquent behaviours and drug use, were explored in male adolescents with sex offences against children, sex offences against peer/adults, sexual offences against both and non-sex delinquents. Youths who committed sexual offences were similar on psychopathic traits and level of antisocial behaviour. Higher levels of grandiosity and lack of empathy were found in those whose offences were non-sexual. Parental dysfunction was consistent across all groups, but maternal psychiatric difficulties were more frequent in youths with histories of sexual offending and a history of maternal substance abuse was more common for cross-over sexual offenders. These data indicate that most psychopathy traits and antisocial behaviour are similar in all sexual offenders, while maternal dysfunction and narcissistic traits distinguish them from non-sex delinquents.