Trait/disorder	What is seen in some offenders
Antisocial traits / ASPD	More common among some sexual offenders, particularly those with broader criminal and aggressive behaviour
Narcissistic traits	Entitlement, need for admiration, lack of empathy and exploitation can occur, but narcissism alone does not predict child sexual abuse
Psychopathic traits	Particularly relevant to offenders who are manipulative, callous, predatory or chronically exploitative
Paraphilic interests	Some offenders have a persistent sexual interest in children, but not every person who sexually abuses a child meets criteria for pedophilic disorder
Borderline traits	Can occur, but are not a defining characteristic of child sexual offending
Avoidant/dependent traits	Sometimes found, particularly among offenders who otherwise appear socially inhibited or inadequate
No major personality disorder	Also entirely possible. Some perpetrators do not have a diagnosable personality disorder

The distinction between familial (intrafamilial) and non-familial (extrafamilial) offenders is important, because their psychological profiles can be quite different.

Within families

This is especially important because intrafamilial abuse doesn’t necessarily look like the stereotypical “predator.”

A perpetrator may have:

• a respectable public image
• a family role that gives them legitimate access to children
• considerable social functioning
• little or no previous criminal record
• apparently normal relationships outside the abusive behaviour
• the ability to compartmentalise their behaviour
• a strong interest in maintaining the family’s silence

Some familial offenders may therefore not look obviously antisocial or psychopathic to outsiders.

That is one reason families can be shocked when a disclosure occurs.

Outside the family

Some extrafamilial offenders show greater levels of:

• antisocial behaviour
• criminality
• impulsivity
• aggression
• substance misuse
• psychopathic traits
• multiple victims or offending behaviours

But there is enormous variation.

The most important distinction

Personality disorder ≠ child sexual abuser.

And:

Child sexual abuser ≠ necessarily someone with a personality disorder.

Personality diagnosis should therefore never be used as the primary way of deciding whether a disclosure is credible.

If a child or adult survivor makes a disclosure, the focus should be on the disclosure, behavioural evidence, corroborating information, access/opportunity, grooming patterns, communications, witness evidence and professional assessment rather than attempting to diagnose the alleged perpetrator.

And grooming is particularly relevant: grooming can occur within families as well as outside them, and can involve gaining the trust of the child, normalising boundary violations, creating secrecy, isolating the child, testing reactions, and manipulating other adults around the child.