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Approach Behaviors Of Incarcerated Child Molesters, Laura-Lee Griffith-Carrasquel

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The approach behaviors of 107 incarcerated child molesters at Atascadero State Hospital in California were examined through the use of an interview protocol and a 49-question questionnaire developed from the interview findings. The goal was to develop a data base for a molestation prevention program directed toward children. Results suggest that the sampled molesters were oriented to behaviors that commonly occur in friendship formation, including focusing attention on the child and his/her interests and attributes. These findings suggest that an effective prevention program could be very difficult to develop.