The Identification and Diagnosis of Alleged Victims and Alleged Paedophiles (What to Dos and What to Avoid Doing)
| Published date | 01 January 2001 |
| Author | L.F. Lowenstein |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X0107400308 |
| Date | 01 January 2001 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
DR
L.F.
LOWENSTEIN
Psychologist; Director
of
Allington Manor Psychological
Services Southern England
THE IDENTIFICATION AND
DIAGNOSIS OF ALLEGED VICTIMS
AND ALLEGED PAEDOPHILES
(WHAT TO DO AND WHAT TO
AVOID DOING)
A. Introduction
It
is difficult to summarise in one short piece the two aspects the title
suggests should be covered. The identification of paedophiles, unless
there is obvious evidence through DNA, is never easy. There are
occasions when paedophiles deny having committed an offence against
a child, and indeed there are also times when children make allegations
against someone for ulterior reasons when no sexual abuse has actually
taken place. To carry out the most effective job of identifying and
diagnosing the problem, one is required to see both the alleged
paedophile and the alleged victim, and to compare the responses.
There are also different kinds of paedophiles: those that are violent
and aggressive and in some cases even murder their victims, but these
are in the minority despite their notoriety; and others who are diffident
individuals with low self-esteem who carry out paedophile acts of a
lesser nature but equally whose acts are harmful to the victim imme-
diately and often in the long term. Despite these differences, efforts
have been made to identify certain common and also specific traits or
characteristics and personalities in the research. There are so many
exceptions cited during the research that one almost feels one is dealing
with a heterogeneous group of individuals, mostly males, who commit
such acts on children.
The Lowenstein Sex Abuse Inventory (LSAI), and earlier versions,
has been created by the author in order to obviate the injustices often
perpetrated through the use of poor interviewing techniques. Needless
to say there is currently no perfect system of identifying or diagnosing
paedophiles that can be accepted by everyone as foolproof. The test
developed by the author should never be used on its own but always in
conjunction with other personality tests as well as an interview in order
to provide the most accurate assessment possible.
When there is uncertainty as to whether the paedophile act has
actually occurred, psychologists are often involved in 'getting at the
truth'. This is not an easy matter as already stated. Psychologists are
not infallible and they contribute something to the whole assessment.
However, frequently those children who have alleged sexual abuse
The Police Journal, Volume 74 (2001) 237
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