DOI: 10.6129/CJP.20150908
Chinese Journal of Psychology 2015, Vol.57, No.3, 281-301

Formation of the Proclivity for Sexual Abuse Against Childre

Jiun-Yih Huang（Department of Applied Psychology, Hsuan Chuang University）

Abstract

Given the lack of knowledge on child sexual abuse in Taiwan and the limited investigation of child sexual abuse
proclivity in both Taiwan and Western countries, this study proposes and examines a theoretical model of child
sexual abuse proclivity from the perspectives of early experiences, psychological and behavioral characteristics, and
sociocultural perception. The proposed model indicates that deviant sexual arousal, distorted cognitions (child sexual
abuse myths), and an antisocial personality directly affect the formation of child sexual abuse proclivity; sociocultural
perception directly affects the formation of deviant sexual arousal and distorted cognitions; childhood sexual abuse
experiences directly influence the formation of deviant sexual arousal; and childhood sexual abuse experience, primary
caretaker’s physical abuse, rejection, and neglect directly affect the formation of an antisocial personality. We used an
anonymous self-report questionnaire to collect data. The research sample comprised 915 male inmates and 559 male
college students. Structural equation modeling was employed to verify the proposed model. The results show that the
measurement model attained acceptable reliability and validity. Furthermore, the structural model was supported by
observable data and most fit indices in both samples, accounting for 77% of the variance in child sexual abuse proclivity
in the male inmates and 73% of the variance in the college students. Finally, this paper discusses the theoretical
implications of the research results, as well as the practical applications, research limitations, and future research
directions.

Keywords: child, sexual abuse, deviant sexual arousal, distorted cognition