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Sex Offenders, 2020
This chapter assesses the relationship between mental illness and sex offending. The terms “sex o... more This chapter assesses the relationship between mental illness and sex offending. The terms “sex offending” and “mental illness” are sometimes inextricably linked, often in improper ways. The notion that all civilly committed sex offenders have a mental disorder does not withstand clinical scrutiny. To qualify for civil commitment as a sexually violent predator (SVP), an individual must have (1) one or more prior “violent” sex offense convictions, (2) a mental abnormality or personality disorder, and (3) a mental abnormality that makes that individual likely to commit a future “violent” sexual offense. Colloquially, “mental abnormalities” are often collectively referred to as major mental illnesses or, more formally, serious mental illnesses (SMIs). Strictly speaking, personality disorders are considered to be mental disorders. However, in practice, many use the term “mental disorder” to refer only to SMIs, as opposed to personality disorders or intellectual disabilities. This chapte...
The American Journal of Forensic Psychology, 1987
The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 2011
Human beings differ in sexual makeup. Most adults are not sexually attracted to prepubescent chil... more Human beings differ in sexual makeup. Most adults are not sexually attracted to prepubescent children, but some are. Societal values can be of relevance in determining whether such a difference is considered to be a psychiatric condition. Were a society to believe that adult-child sexual interactions should not be prohibited, such a difference might not be viewed as a disorder. According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR), a difference in sexual makeup can be considered a disorder when it causes interpersonal difficulty or marked distress. In contemporary society, pedophilia can do both. According to DSM-IV-TR, for a diagnosis of pedophilia, there must be both a qualitative difference in sexual makeup (i.e., sexualized urges directed toward children) and a quantitative difference (i.e., the sexualized urges must be intense). However, just as a heterosexual man with low (i.e., nonintense) sexual urges is still heterosex...
The Psychiatric clinics of North America, 2008
Sex Offenders, 2020
This chapter assesses the relationship between mental illness and sex offending. The terms “sex o... more This chapter assesses the relationship between mental illness and sex offending. The terms “sex offending” and “mental illness” are sometimes inextricably linked, often in improper ways. The notion that all civilly committed sex offenders have a mental disorder does not withstand clinical scrutiny. To qualify for civil commitment as a sexually violent predator (SVP), an individual must have (1) one or more prior “violent” sex offense convictions, (2) a mental abnormality or personality disorder, and (3) a mental abnormality that makes that individual likely to commit a future “violent” sexual offense. Colloquially, “mental abnormalities” are often collectively referred to as major mental illnesses or, more formally, serious mental illnesses (SMIs). Strictly speaking, personality disorders are considered to be mental disorders. However, in practice, many use the term “mental disorder” to refer only to SMIs, as opposed to personality disorders or intellectual disabilities. This chapte...
The American Journal of Forensic Psychology, 1987
The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 2011
Human beings differ in sexual makeup. Most adults are not sexually attracted to prepubescent chil... more Human beings differ in sexual makeup. Most adults are not sexually attracted to prepubescent children, but some are. Societal values can be of relevance in determining whether such a difference is considered to be a psychiatric condition. Were a society to believe that adult-child sexual interactions should not be prohibited, such a difference might not be viewed as a disorder. According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR), a difference in sexual makeup can be considered a disorder when it causes interpersonal difficulty or marked distress. In contemporary society, pedophilia can do both. According to DSM-IV-TR, for a diagnosis of pedophilia, there must be both a qualitative difference in sexual makeup (i.e., sexualized urges directed toward children) and a quantitative difference (i.e., the sexualized urges must be intense). However, just as a heterosexual man with low (i.e., nonintense) sexual urges is still heterosex...
The Psychiatric clinics of North America, 2008