An examination of intimacy and loneliness in sex offenders

Two studies, one conducted on incarcerated sex offenders and the other on nonincarcerated sex offenders, revealed that loneliness and lack of intimacy are more common among sex offenders than among other offenders such as wife batterers. Rapists and child molesters showed the greatest deficiencies in intimacy. Lack of intimacy was found to be a better predictor of violence than was loneliness. The results suggest that loneliness and intimacy deficiencies should be taken into account during the treatment of sex offenders.