Validating the Components of a Taxonomic System for Rapists: A Path Analytic Approach

• NCJ Number: 141131
• Author(s): R A Knight, A Lee, R A Prentky, R Rosenberg
• Date Published: January 1988
• Length: 17 pages
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored

Annotation

This study was part of a series designed to validate a classification system for rapists developed at the Massachusetts Treatment Center.

Abstract

The system (MTC:R2) determines subtypes according to three major dimensions: the meaning of the aggression in the rapist's offenses (expressive versus instrumental), the meaning of the sexual behavior (compensatory, exploitative, displaced anger, or sadistic), and the degree of general lifestyle impulsivity (low or high). A total of 201 rapists were subtyped using this system. A path analytic approach was used to relate family, juvenile, and adult histories to the main decisions of subtype assignment. The classification of an offender on each of the three dimensions was informed by a developmental perspective. Results provide support for the use of the discriminators examined and highlight the deficiencies in current knowledge regarding developmental precursors. These results were integrated with the findings from other studies using MTC:R2, and suggestions for revisions to the current classification system are discussed. 3 tables, 4 figures, and 19 references (Author abstract modified)