Two experiments investigated the efficacy of a semantic tracking task (V. L. Quinsey and T. C. Chaplin, 1988) in reducing the magnitude of voluntary control homosexual pedophiles exert on their penile responses. In Exp 1, the penile responses of 24 homosexual pedophiles unfamiliar with phallometric testing were recorded. Results showed that the mean pedophilic index of those assessed while carrying out the semantic tracking task did not differ from the mean index obtained with those assessed without performing that task. In Exp 2, the same stimuli and assessment procedures were used with 12 homosexual pedophiles who were familiar with phallometric testing. The mean pedophilic index obtained in the session in which the pedophiles were carrying out the semantic tracking task was higher and more consistent with their pedophilic behavior that the mean pedophilic index obtained in the session in which they were assessed without performing that task.
(PA 80:45668)