Abstract
Objectives: The present study was carried out to assess early maladaptive schemas (EMS) and schema domains in a sample of sexual offenders. Method: The subjects were divided into two groups of 34 (one group of sexual offenders and one group of normal individuals). The sample of sexual offenders was randomly selected from among Mashad prison inmates convicted of rape. Normal subjects who were selected according to GSI score in SCL-90-R were matched by age, marital status, occupation and education with the first group. The data were collected by Young Schema Questionnaire- Short Form (YSQ-SF) and were analyzed via t-test. Also, SCL-90-R was used for screening the normal group. Results: The mean score of early maladaptive schemas as well as the schema domains of sexual offenders were significantly higher than those of normal individuals (p<0.05). This discrepancy was mostly evident in vulnerability to harm or illness, subjugation, defectiveness/ shame dependenc/ incompetence, entitlement/ grandiosity early maladaptive schemas and disconnection and rejection, Impaired autonomy and performance schema domain. There was no significant difference in self-sacrifice maladaptive schema (p<0.05). Conclusion: High scores in early maladaptive schema especially in disconnection/rejection and impaired autonomy/ performance schema domain could lead to the tendency to commit sexual offenses and rape.