Date of Award
8-1992
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. William A. Carlson
Second Advisor
Dr. Stanley Robin
Third Advisor
Dr. Michael Bahr
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Kenneth Bullmer
Abstract
Research indicates that sexual offending juveniles are angry. Furthermore, sexual offending is seen as a primary means to reduce anger by these youth. However there is little empirical support of these positions. Few comparative studies of sexual offenders with other experimental or control groups exist.
The purpose of this study was to assess differences of anger among three adolescent groups: juvenile delinquent, sexual offender and a control. Assessment of anger was across six subscales of Spielberger's (1988) State Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI). The subscales of interest were: State, Trait, Trait Anger Temperament, Trait Anger Repressed, Anger Expression/In and Anger Expression/Out.
A total sample of 85 youth participated and were assessed using the STAXI. When 28 delinquent, 30 sexual offender and 27 control youth were compared through six subscales of the STAXI the only significant difference was between the juvenile delinquent and controls on the state anger subscale. No other significant differences were found between groups or across any other anger subscales.
This study found comparable levels of anger among sexual offenders, delinquents and controls. Significant State anger (the ongoing experience of relatively elevated angry feelings) differences between juvenile delinquent and control youth were also found. Future research needs to be directed toward assessing other personality characteristic differences among these three groups.
Access Setting
Dissertation-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Lincoln, Brett D., "A Measure of State-Trait Anger with Adolescent Sex Offenders, Adolescent Delinquents, and a Normal Adolescent Population" (1992). Dissertations. 1919.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/1919