Roy R. Frenzel

Quantitative EEG studies of pedophilia

Ninety six pedophiles, whose sexual orientation was confirmed by phallometric response to sexual stimuli, were investigated with quantitative EEG and compared to age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The EEG analysis showed a pattern of increased frontal delta, theta and alpha power (especially during verbal processing) and a pattern of reduced interhemispheric and increased intrahemispheric-interhemispheric coherence, right and left (only during verbal processing), an effect that was restricted to those who showed maximal erotic arousal for sexual partners aged 6-12 years. These findings will be discussed in the context of recent studies which suggest that sexual deviations in the male relate to altered dominant hemispheric functions with disruption of frontal interhemispheric relationships.

An examination of brain damage and dysfunction in genital exhibitionists

Fifteen male exhibitionists were compared to 36 nonviolent, nonsex offender controls on CT brain scans, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-R), and the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery (HR). The exhibitionists differed from controls only on HR subtests Tactual Performance Total Time, Trail Making Test A, and Aphasia Screening Test. Global differences between the two groups in structural brain damage and functional impairment were not found. Contrasting results of brain damage in exhibitionists and other sex offender groups are discussed.

Quantitative EEG Investigations of Genital Exhibitionism

Forty-three male genital exhibitionists and 46 normal controls,. all right handed, and matched for age, sex, and education, were studied with quantitative EEG during resting conditions, with eyes open and eyes closed, and during two cognitive tasks (Vocabulary subtest of the WAIS-R, oral word fluency), and during spatial cognitive processing (Block Design subtest of the WAIS-R). Results indicated that EEG Power and Coherence were significantly different in the exhibitionist group, particularly during verbal processing. The findings occurred in the delta, theta, and alpha frequencies and were of increased power and reduced inter-hemispheric coherence. No significant findings emerged between groups during visual-spatial cognitive activation in any frequency bands or conditions, neither in terms of power nor coherence. These results are consistent with the growing body of evidence which suggests that sexual anomalies in the male relate to altered left hemispheric functions with disruption of inter-hemispheric relationships.

Personality and Sexual Anomalies An Examination of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory

Test properties of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) were examined in a sample of 419 sex offenders and controls in three different settings. The offender group included sexual aggressives, pedophiles, incest perpetrators and miscellaneous cases. Nineteen of the 20 scales of the MCMI had alpha reliability over 0.60 and for 13 scales it was over 0.80. The scales showed satisfactory discriminant validity from age but 9 scales showed a moderate influence of intelligence scores and education. Criminal history did not influence scale results. The scales unfortunately did show significant correlations with MMPI validity scales. Although the scales were not susceptible to naive lying, they were influenced by social desirability especially. Four factors were extracted in principal axes factor analysis that accounted for 91.2% of the total variance. The first factor explained 58.2% of the variance and was labeled general psychopathology. The other three factors suggested psychotic tendencies, extraversion and the bipolar dependency-antisocial tendencies. When the groups were compared, almost all scales significantly differentiated them. When the MMPI F-K Scale was forced to enter a stepwise discriminant analysis first, five scales still were significant; Narcissistic, Schizoid-Asocial, Alcohol Abuse, Paranoid, & Dependent-Submissive scales. The MCMI taps important dimensions in sex offenders but suffers from validity problems.

Pornography and sexual offences

A total of 279 men were asked about their purchase of erotic magazines, rental of videos and attendance at erotic movies. There were 131 sex offenders and 50 community controls from Alberta and 97 sex offenders from Ontario. In line with results from previous commissions on the subject, community volunteers reported greater exposure to erotica than sex offenders but there were no group differences in regular use of erotica. There were also no group differences in the types of erotica to which the respondents were exposed. The adult female was the main subject of materials to which most men had been exposed. An examination of age, education, intelligence, admission to the offense, and validity scales of the MMPI showed that the best predictor of erotica use was lower intelligence. Of the 15% of sex offenders against children who used erotic materials in their offence, conventional adult female erotica was used, usually to stimulate the childs curiosity. Theories of erotica use in sex offences and methods of study are reviewed.

Personality and sexual anomalies

Test properties of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) were examined in a sample of 419 sex offenders and controls in three different settings. The offender group included sexual aggressives, pedophiles, incest perpetrators and miscellaneous cases. Nineteen of the 20 scales of the MCMI had alpha reliability over 0.60 and for 13 scales it was over 0.80. The scales showed satisfactory discriminant validity from age but 9 scales showed a moderate influence of intelligence scores and education. Criminal history did not influence scale results. The scales unfortunately did show significant correlations with MMPI validity scales. Although the scales were not susceptible to naive lying, they were influenced by social desirability especially. Four factors were extracted in principal axes factor analysis that accounted for 91.2% of the total variance. The first factor explained 58.2% of the variance and was labeled general psychopathology. The other three factors suggested psychotic tendencies, extraversion and the bipolar dependency-antisocial tendencies. When the groups were compared, almost all scales significantly differentiated them. When the MMPI F-K Scale was forced to enter a stepwise discriminant analysis first, five scales still were significant; Narcissistic, Schizoid-Asocial, Alcohol Abuse, Paranoid, & Dependent-Submissive scales. The MCMI taps important dimensions in sex offenders but suffers from validity problems.

Assessment of Sex Offenders Using Standardized Slide Stimuli and Procedures: A Multisite Study1

Thirty sex offenders were assessed for age and gender preference with a set of standardized erotic slides and an assessment protocol which specified each step in the procedure. This procedure was intended to be a normative study to be carried out at multiple sites in the United States and Canada. It was hypothesized that (1) the procedure would discriminate child molesters as heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual, (2) the procedure would differentiate child molesters from normal subjects, and (3) both of these hypotheses would be confirmed at all sites. Data are reported here for 20 of the 30 subjects tested in groups labeled heterosexual pedophilia, homosexual pedophilia, heterosexual incest, and rape. Although the groups were quite small and measured response levels were low, good discriminations were obtained between groups and stimulus categories. It was concluded that the obtained data confirmed Hypothesis 1 and partially confirmed Hypothesis 2. Although the assessment protocol had to be altered to suit local conditions, it proved adequate and could serve as a guide in future standardization studies. Of particular interest was the finding that a 30-sec slide exposure was effective in producing discriminations in the critical categories related to the tested hypotheses.

Sex hormone profiles in genital exhibitionists

Sixteen male genital exhibitionists were compared to nonviolent nonsex offender controls with respect to 9 serum hormones: cortisol, prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone, estradiol, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, androstenedione, testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, and two indices of free testosterone. There were group differences in estradiol, total testosterone and percent free testosterone. Exhibitionists had lower estradiol and testosterone but higher overall free testosterone. The results were unrelated to substance abuse, age, or education. Sex hormone abnormalities in exhibitionists and in other sex offender groups are discussed.