A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FEMALE SEX OFFENDERS AND FEMALE OFFENDERS: EXPLORING ISSUES OF PERSONALITY, TRAUMA, AND COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS by SUSAN McCARTHY STRICKLAND (Under the Direction of Kevin DeWeaver) ABSTRACT Although crime rates are declining in recent years, crime rates for women are increasing. Incarceration rates have increased for women by 121% in the last 12 years (compared to an 84% rise for men) (Sacks, 2004). In comparison to the general population, female offenders tend to have higher levels of chemical dependency, personality disorders, childhood trauma histories, including sexual abuse (DOJ, 1992; 1994). In the last 10 years, sexual crime committed by women has been identified and adjudicated at higher frequencies. Few studies have investigated the characteristics of female sex offenders, factors and/or causes of female deviance, and how best to rehabilitate them. Research to date has been descriptive in nature, with few comparison studies. Since women share the similar socialization, sexual development, trauma histories, and gender-specific issues, the pathway to female sexual deviance is unclear. This study used a correlational design, comparing two independent groups. Three valid and reliable test instruments, the Multiphasic Sex Inventory – II (female version) (MSI-II), the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory – 3 (SASSI-3), and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), were used to identify differences between female sex offenders and other female offenders in the areas of personality disorders, chemical dependency, childhood trauma, sexual trauma, emotional neediness, cognitive distortions, and social competence. A sample of 130 incarcerated females, 60 sex offenders, and 70 non-sexual offenders, was used. Results indicate few differences exist between female sex offenders and female non-sex offenders. Significant results were found in the areas of total childhood trauma and severity of sexual abuse suffered, as well as in differences in the area of social and sexual competence. No differences were found in use/abuse of substances, personality disorders, emotional neediness or cognitive distortions. Implications for identification, adjudication, and rehabilitation of female sex offenders are discussed. INDEX WORDS: Sexual abuse, Female sex offenders, Personality disorders, Childhood trauma, Social competence, Social work. A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FEMALE SEX OFFENDERS AND FEMALE OFFENDERS: EXPLORING ISSUES OF PERSONALITY, TRAUMA, AND COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS by SUSAN McCARTHY STRICKLAND B.A., Indiana University, 1984 M.S.W., University of Georgia, 1987 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ATHENS, GA 2004 © 2004 Susan McCarthy Strickland All Rights Reserved A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FEMALE SEX OFFENDERS AND FEMALE OFFENDERS: EXPLORING ISSUES OF PERSONALITY, TRAUMA, AND COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS by SUSAN McCARTHY STRICKLAND Major Professor: Kevin DeWeaver Committee: Edwin Risler M. Elizabeth Vonk Electronic Version Approved: Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia December, 2004 iv DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation to my mother, Edith McCarthy, who never stops believing in me; to my father, Eugene P. McCarthy, whose memory guides my quest for knowledge and peace; and to my children, Jacob and Annie Mac, my lights into the future. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My sincere gratitude is due to my major Professor, Dr. Kevin DeWeaver, whose constant support, expertise, and humor have carried me through this journey. He has been a wonderful inspiration and mentor. I wish to extend great appreciation to my committee, Drs. Betsy Vonk and Ed Risler. Their expertise will continue to guide to me as a researcher, teacher, and clinician. I am grateful to Dr. Bruce Thyer for talking me into going down this empirical road, and to Ms. Marty Lund, whose constant assistance, support, and friendship have gotten me through. I could never have remembered it all without her. Finally, my deepest thanks go to my husband, Dee Strickland. Words cannot express the love and peace he brings to my life. His undying loyalty, support, sacrifice and love are a constant comfort to me. Today and everyday, I choose him to be my husband. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................................................................................... iv CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................1 Relevance to Social Work........................................................................................8 Statement of the Problem.......................................................................................10 2 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE...............................................................................14 Prevalence of Female Crime..................................................................................16 Characteristics of Female Offenders......................................................................17 Female Sexual Abuse.............................................................................................19 Characteristics of Female Sex Offenders...............................................................25 Prevalence of Female Sexual Abuse......................................................................29 Types of Abuse ......................................................................................................39 Consequences of Female Sexual Abuse ................................................................40 Differences Between Male and Female Child Molesters ......................................45 Summary............................................................................................................... 47 3 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK .................................................................................49 Theoretical Frameworks ........................................................................................49 Research Model.....................................................................................................52 Conceptual Definitions..........................................................................................53 Operationalization of Variables .............................................................................56 Research Hypotheses .............................................................................................60 4 METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................................62 Research Design.................................................................................................... 62 Sample ...................................................................................................................62 Procedure ..............................................................................................................64 Instrumentation .....................................................................................................65 vii Power Analysis......................................................................................................72 5 RESULTS ....................................................................................................................73 Demographics ........................................................................................................74 Results of Hypotheses Testing ..............................................................................77 Summary ...............................................................................................................83 6 DISCUSSION ..............................................................................................................84 Demographics .......................................................................................................85 Factors Under Investigation ..................................................................................88 Strengths and Limitations ....................................................................................100 Implications for Practice .....................................................................................103 Future Research ..................................................................................................107 Conclusions .........................................................................................................108 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................109 APPENDICES A APPROVAL LETTER FROM THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS............................................................................................138 B CONSENT FORM...............................................................................................140 C MULTIPHASIC SEX INVENTORY – II (MSI-II) (FEMALE VERSION).........................................................................................142 D SUBSTANCE ABUSE SUBTLE SCREENING INVENTORY - 3 (SASSI-3) .......................................................................................................156 E CHILDHOOD TRAUMA QUESTIONNAIRE (CTQ).......................................159 1 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Women who break the law are a largely ignored population, both from a societal and cultural perspective, as well as