An Exploration of Racial Differences in Deviant Sexual Interests Among Male Adolescent Sexual Offenders

Abstract

In many research studies and findings from federal statistics, one of the few areas wherein African Americans are less overrepresented in incarcerated settings is for male juvenile sexual assault. In this study, using a large sample the authors hypothesized that perhaps this was due to less deviant sexual interest among these youth (as reported in prior studies) after controlling for relevant variables that might explain differences in deviant arousal between Caucasian and African American youth. The result supported this hypothesis. The authors offered discussion, implications, and suggested individually and culturally based treatment for male adolescent sexual offenders.