Neurocognitive Functioning and Subtypes of Child Molesters: Poorer Working Memory Differentiates Incestuous from Non-Incestuous Offenders

Abstract

Studies of neurocognitive functioning suggest that child molesters can be differentiated into offender types based on frontal neurocognitive (executive) functioning. The aim of this study was to examine performance on cognitive tests that assess processing speed, cognitive flexibility, executive control and working memory in two samples of child molesters (incestuous and non-incestuous) compared with an age- and education-matched control group of non-offenders. These groups were matched for clinical, sociodemographic and criminological characteristics. Our results suggest that cognitive measures of executive functioning (i.e., processing speed, cognitive flexibility and executive control) differentiate child molesters from non-offender participants, and that working memory performance in incestuous child molesters differentiates this group from non-incestuous offenders and control participants. These findings suggest specific components of impaired cognitive performance in incestuous child molesters relative to extra-familial offenders and non-offender control participants. Poorer working memory in incestuous child molesters may help differentiate this group from other child molester types.

Key words:

• child molesters
• executive dysfunction
• forensic psychology
• incestuous offenders
• neuropsychology
• offenders profiling
• working memory

Acknowledgement

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