Attitudes of incest abuse perpetrators in the Northern Province towards incest abuse and their victims

Abstract

This study is an investigation into the sexual attitudes of incest abuse perpetrators in the Northern Province and attitudes towards their victims (South Africa).

Forty-two convicted male incest abuse perpetrators and forty-two professional males nonperpetrators (as control group) participated in the study. The Hanson Sex Attitude Questionnaire was administered to both incest abuse perpetrators and professional males ' nonperpetrator (as control group) to compar':' their attitudes. The questionnaire includes: Sexual Entitle ment scale, Sexy-Children scale, Frustration scale, Affair scale, Sex/ Affection-Confusion scale. and Sexual-Harm scale. A quantitative research approach was followed in the study.

The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the responses. Compared to the control group, the incest abuse perpetrators showed deviant negative attitudes in all the scales : (a) endorsing attitudes supportive to sexua l en title ment, (b) perceiving children to be sexually attractive, (c) being sexually frustrated in their life, (d) confusing sex with affection, (e) minimizing the harm caused by sexual abuse of childre n, and (t) accepting extra-marital affairs.

Thus the attitudes of incest abuse perpetrators are significantly unfavorable to the victims. The researcher recommends psychological intervention for the perpetrators to help them adjust to their societal expectations. More job opportunities should be created in the province.