Chronicity of criminal behavior and psychopathology in male exhibitionists

Abstract

Conducted this study to resolve inconsistencies in the literature with regard to the personality characteristics of male exhibitionists. Both exhibitionistic and non-exhibitionistic criminal offenses as they relate to severity of psychopathology as measured by the MMPI in 84 exhibitionists were studied. An increase in psychopathology was not found to be associated with an increase in chronicity of exhibitionistic activity in exhibitionists. When exhibitionists who had been involved in other forms of illegal activity were considered alone, positive correlations were found between elevations on MMPI Psychopathic Deviate (PD) and Hypomania (MA) scales and an increase in both non-exhibitionistic criminal behavior and total criminal involvement.