Abel Assessment

The Abel Assessment for Sexual Interest (also Abel Assessment for Interest in Paraphilias) is an assessment test that purports to measure sexual interest in various subjects – and especially to measure a tendency toward pedophilia.[1] The test was created by Dr. Gene G. Abel in 1995, and has been subsequently revised several times. It has been used as evidence in Northern America when prosecuting sex offenders, although its reliability has since been disputed[2] and it has been declared inadmissible in court in various jurisdictions.

The Abel Assessment is controversial, because its results, although subjective, are presented as cut and dried. Some experts question its methodology.[3][4]

Despite the test's uncertainty, mental health professionals have used the Abel Assessment to civilly commit sex offenders.

  1. ^ Chammah, Maurice (2015-07-09). "The Sex-Offender Test: How a computerized assessment can help determine the fate of men who've been accused of sexually abusing children". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  2. ^ "Statistical adequacy of the Abel Assessment for Interest in Paraphilias". Sex Abuse. 11: 195–205. 2014-01-24. PMID 10497779. (abstract only; membership required for access to full text).
  3. ^ United States of America v. Guy Randy White Horse (U.S. District Court, South Dakota Western Division 2001)
  4. ^ Smith, Gillan MacLean (1998). "Testing the Reliability and Validity of the Abel Assessment". Department of Counseling and Special Education (Brigham Young University).