Dissociation and variability of adult attachment dimensions and early maladaptive schemas in sexual and violent offenders

Dissociation and variability of adult attachment dimensions and early maladaptive schemas in sexual and violent offenders

Baker, E., & Beech, A. R. (2004). Dissociation and variability of adult attachment dimensions and early maladaptive schemas in sexual and violent offenders. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19(10), 1119-1136. doi:10.1177/0886260504269091

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of constructs that may indicate the presence of disorganized attachment style in sexual and violent offenders. Constructs measured were dissociation, variability on self-report measures of attachment style and early maladaptive schemas, and variability in observed behavior. Data on variability was collected at four time intervals, approximately 3 weeks apart. No differences between the groups were found in variability of self-reported attachment style. Both offending groups showed greater variability in early schemas and higher levels of dissociation than the nonoffending group. Sex offenders showed greater variability than violent offenders in behaviors related to distress.

Attachment Behavior; Dissociative Disorders; Public Offenders; Psychosocial Factors; Adult; Checklists; Chi Square Test; Coefficient Alpha; Comparative Studies; Fisher's Exact Test; Kruskal-Wallis Test; Male; Mann-Whitney U Test; One-Way Analysis of Varian

UK

Forensic

Early maladaptive schemas

Comparison between clinical group/s and/or healthy adult controls