Toward a Neuropsychology of Personality in Sex Offenders Against Children: An Exploratory Psychometric Study

Abstract

Little is known about the relationship between neuropsychological functioning and normal personality in sex offenders. The aim of this study was to examine the relations between personality traits and executive functioning in child molesters. The NEO-Five Factor Inventory was used to assess personality, and the Trail Making Test (parts A and B) was used to assess executive functioning in a sample of child molesters (n = 33). We found the time required to complete Trail Making Test part A significantly predicted Extraversion scores, whereas the time to complete Trail Making Test part B significantly predicted Openness scores. Brief measures of executive functioning can thus predict the score in Extraversion and Openness in child molesters. These personality traits may be related to the functioning of brain areas implicated in having to complete the Trail Making Test.

Keywords:

• Sex offenders
• personality
• executive functioning
• neuropsychology
• pedophiles
• Big Five

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to give their appreciation to the Secretaría General de Instituciones Penitenciarias from Spain for their help in the access to prisons.