Cognitive profiles of paedophilic behaviour: a meta-analytic and systematic review of developmental vs acquired forms
BackgroundDevelopmental and acquired paedophilic behaviour are considered two distinct phenomena, yet no study has systematically compared the cognitive profiles of individuals committing these forms of child sexual offenses (CSO). This study explored whether individuals with developmental and acqui...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1568244/full |
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| author | Cristiano Costa Lucia Ronconi Stefano Ferracuti Alexa Schincariol Alexa Schincariol Cristina Scarpazza Cristina Scarpazza |
| author_facet | Cristiano Costa Lucia Ronconi Stefano Ferracuti Alexa Schincariol Alexa Schincariol Cristina Scarpazza Cristina Scarpazza |
| author_sort | Cristiano Costa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundDevelopmental and acquired paedophilic behaviour are considered two distinct phenomena, yet no study has systematically compared the cognitive profiles of individuals committing these forms of child sexual offenses (CSO). This study explored whether individuals with developmental and acquired paedophilic behaviour are characterised by similar or different neuropsychological underpinnings and how these differences manifest themselves in observable behaviour.MethodsThirty-four studies on developmental CSO and 17 (describing 21 cases) on acquired CSO were included. Multivariate meta-analytic approaches were adopted to investigate the cognitive abilities of individuals who committed CSO with (P+CSO) and without (CSO) a diagnosis of paedophilia (P), while a systematic review was conducted to identify the cognitive features of acquired CSO.ResultsMeta-analytic findings showed overall worse neuropsychological performances for developmental CSO compared to the control group (μ = −0.186; p = .002). Subgroup analyses confirmed these results for both CSO (μ = −0.232; p <.05) and P+CSO (μ = −0.153; p <.05). The systematic review on acquired CSO revealed that all individuals (100%) exhibited deficits in inhibitory control and 62.5% of them showed concomitant impairments in social-cognition abilities.ConclusionsDevelopmental and acquired paedophilic behaviours share inhibitory control deficits, even though with different characteristics; however, social-cognitive deficits appear specific to acquired CSO. These findings provide insights into the neurocognitive underpinnings of these behaviours, highlighting distinct mechanisms that may influence their modi operandi. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-49fbd8b15cb54c7dafd1cbca3d26a4c5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-49fbd8b15cb54c7dafd1cbca3d26a4c52025-08-20T03:45:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-06-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15682441568244Cognitive profiles of paedophilic behaviour: a meta-analytic and systematic review of developmental vs acquired formsCristiano Costa0Lucia Ronconi1Stefano Ferracuti2Alexa Schincariol3Alexa Schincariol4Cristina Scarpazza5Cristina Scarpazza6Department of General Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, ItalyDepartment of General Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, ItalyDepartment of Human Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, ItalyDepartment of General Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, ItalyNeuroscience Center, Department of General Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, ItalyDepartment of General Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, ItalyIstituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) S. Camillo Hospital, Venice, ItalyBackgroundDevelopmental and acquired paedophilic behaviour are considered two distinct phenomena, yet no study has systematically compared the cognitive profiles of individuals committing these forms of child sexual offenses (CSO). This study explored whether individuals with developmental and acquired paedophilic behaviour are characterised by similar or different neuropsychological underpinnings and how these differences manifest themselves in observable behaviour.MethodsThirty-four studies on developmental CSO and 17 (describing 21 cases) on acquired CSO were included. Multivariate meta-analytic approaches were adopted to investigate the cognitive abilities of individuals who committed CSO with (P+CSO) and without (CSO) a diagnosis of paedophilia (P), while a systematic review was conducted to identify the cognitive features of acquired CSO.ResultsMeta-analytic findings showed overall worse neuropsychological performances for developmental CSO compared to the control group (μ = −0.186; p = .002). Subgroup analyses confirmed these results for both CSO (μ = −0.232; p <.05) and P+CSO (μ = −0.153; p <.05). The systematic review on acquired CSO revealed that all individuals (100%) exhibited deficits in inhibitory control and 62.5% of them showed concomitant impairments in social-cognition abilities.ConclusionsDevelopmental and acquired paedophilic behaviours share inhibitory control deficits, even though with different characteristics; however, social-cognitive deficits appear specific to acquired CSO. These findings provide insights into the neurocognitive underpinnings of these behaviours, highlighting distinct mechanisms that may influence their modi operandi.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1568244/fullchild sexual offendingpedophiliapedophilic disordercognitive profileimpulsivitysocial cognition |
| spellingShingle | Cristiano Costa Lucia Ronconi Stefano Ferracuti Alexa Schincariol Alexa Schincariol Cristina Scarpazza Cristina Scarpazza Cognitive profiles of paedophilic behaviour: a meta-analytic and systematic review of developmental vs acquired forms Frontiers in Psychiatry child sexual offending pedophilia pedophilic disorder cognitive profile impulsivity social cognition |
| title | Cognitive profiles of paedophilic behaviour: a meta-analytic and systematic review of developmental vs acquired forms |
| title_full | Cognitive profiles of paedophilic behaviour: a meta-analytic and systematic review of developmental vs acquired forms |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive profiles of paedophilic behaviour: a meta-analytic and systematic review of developmental vs acquired forms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive profiles of paedophilic behaviour: a meta-analytic and systematic review of developmental vs acquired forms |
| title_short | Cognitive profiles of paedophilic behaviour: a meta-analytic and systematic review of developmental vs acquired forms |
| title_sort | cognitive profiles of paedophilic behaviour a meta analytic and systematic review of developmental vs acquired forms |
| topic | child sexual offending pedophilia pedophilic disorder cognitive profile impulsivity social cognition |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1568244/full |
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