I agree that this is not a direct survey about the characteristics of child molesters. I’d be interested in a better study too.
I don’t read this particular study the way you do. The part you quote was part of the review of the literature the authors used to assemble their survey questions.
The article shows that the professionals didn’t competely agree with that.
The study itself starts from the hypothesis that
“ students would be more likely to see abusers conforming to the stereotypical characteristics, whereas professionals’ perceptions would reflect characteristics of actual perpetrators.” Given who these people treat IMO that isn’t a bad assumption.
The research you quoted was certainly the basis for questions regarding “items describing potential demographic characteristics of abusers.”
The differences between that study and the impressions of the professionals were married state and educational level.
I'll take peer-reviewed studies that measure the actual thing over a survey that measures folks’ OPINIONS about the thing.
Over the years, I have seen peer-reviewed research that fails to support your bare, unsupported assertion - that the vast majority of child molesters are married men.
I've never seen a peer-reviewed study that directly measures the attribute that supports your unsupported assertion.
As for the opinions of mental health professionals, I'll say this. When I was a student in a clinical psychology Ph.D. program, the concept of mandatory reporting by health professionals of child sex abuse was a hot topic, just starting to gain traction in legislatures. Our professors, to a man and woman, were aghast that anyone would force psychotherapists, or any other health professional, to report child sex abuse.
Interestingly, every single student in my class, whether liberal or conservative, supported such legislation, to the horror of our faculty.
Whose perceptions were better? Students or faculty?
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