An Exploratory Analysis of Executive Functioning for Female Sexual Offenders: A Comparison of Characteristics Across Offense Typologies

Abstract

This study examined the association between female sexual offending behavioral patterns, as delineated by Sandler and Freeman's (2007) typologies, and executive functioning. The sample included all referrals for sexual offender assessments within a women's maximum/medium security prison between January 2009 and October 2009. Each subject was administered the Stroop (Golden & Freshwater, 2002) and Trail Making Test (Reitan, 2004) and were assigned to a typological category. Nonparametric analyses were conducted to determine if there was an association between typology and performance on neuropsychological tests. Results yielded no significant associations between test scores and typological category. Subjects displayed average capacities for a subset of executive functions, suggesting that the mechanisms for sexually offending behavior in females may differ from males.

Keywords:

• female sex offenders
• neuropsychological functioning

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dawn M. Pflugradt

Dawn M. Pflugradt, PsyD, is a psychological associate at Taycheedah Correctional Institution, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Bradley P. Allen

Bradley P. Allen, PhD, is a licensed psychologist at Taycheedah Correctional Institution, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.