Department

Psychology, Professional

Date of Paper/Work

Fall 9-10-2021

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

Type of Paper/Work

Dissertation

Advisors

Nathaniel Nelson, Paul Arbisi

Abstract

People who commit sexual offenses are a heterogenous population. Earlier models of sex offender treatment programs relied on a one-size-fits all approach based on relapse prevention models. Newer models emphasize client similarities and differences, and tailor treatment recommendations to individual needs. The Ward Hudson Self-Regulation Model of Sexual Offending (SRM) classifies people into categories based on goal type (acquisition or inhibitory) and ability to self-regulate. The aim of the current study was to determine if Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory – 2 – Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) profiles can differentiate people based upon SRM pathway assignment, and use scale scores to predict pathway membership. Archival data, including MMPI-2 protocols, were collected from former male inpatients (N = 122) at a sex offender treatment program. MMPI-2 protocols were converted into MMPI-2-RF profiles for analysis. Although multivariate analysis of variance and independent samples t-tests did not reveal statistically significant scale mean differences based on SRM pathway assignment, moderate effect sizes were observed when comparing means across all four pathways (h2p ≥ .06 on Fs, RC4, GIC, NFC, MSF, and JCP), approach versus avoidant pathways (d ≥ .5 on FBS-r, RC4, SUB, and FML), and regulated versus underregulated pathways (d ≥ .5 on Fs, RC1, GIC, NUC, and NFC). Results of binary logistic regression did not support the hypotheses that scales measuring lack of control (i.e., RCd, DISC-r, and NFC) and scales measuring somatization (i.e., RC1, GIC, NUC, and NEGE-r) added incrementally to the prediction of assignment to an underregulated pathway. Results offer partial support for objective psychological testing (i.e., MMPI-2-RF) as a source of information when determining pathway assignment. Limitations of the current study and future directions for research are addressed.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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