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80 Police J. 28 (2007)
Attitudes toward Sex Offenders and the Role of Empathy, Locus of Control and Training: A Comparison between a Probationer Police and General Public Sample

handle is hein.journals/policejl80 and id is 30 raw text is: HELEN JOHNSON Psychology Department, HMP Kirkham, Kirkham, Lancashire, UK J. GARY HUGHES Department of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK JANE L. IRELAND Department of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK and Psychological Services, Ashworth High Secure Hospital, UK ATTITUDES TOWARDS SEX OFFENDERS AND THE ROLE OF EMPATHY, LOCUS OF CONTROL AND TRAINING: A COMPARISON BETWEEN A PROBATIONER POLICE AND GENERAL PUBLIC SAMPLE The current study aimed to explore attitudes towards sex offenders in a probationer police sample and a general sample, with a focus on the role of empathy and locus of control. There was a subsidiary aim of assessing the impact of education axarene's training on the attitudes held by police officers. Ninet'-nine members of the general population (49 men and 50 women) and 75 probationer police officers (50 men and 25 women) completed the Attitudes Towards Sex Offenders scale (ATS). a measure of cognitive and emotional empathy (IRI: Interpersonal Reactivity Index) and the Locus of Control of Behaviour scale (LOC). Results indicated that police officers were more likely than the general population to report positive attitudes towyards sex offenders. This supported the prediction that there would be a difference between samples. Locus of control did not feature as a strong associating factor with attitudes. failing to associate with overall attitudes towards sex offenders. Attitudes were found to associate with levels of empathy but the nature of the relationship differed in accord- ance with the specific component of empathy and the popula- tion (i.e. police or general sample). Women overall were The Police Journal, Volume 80 (200-)