Issues in the Exploration of Biological Factors Contributing to the Etiology of the "Sex Offender," plus Some Ethical Considerations (original) (raw)
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Distinguishing between sex offender types: Evolution, psychopathy, and neurologic impairment
According to the evolutionary theory of psychopathy, male psychopaths will use coercive sex with females of reproductive age as a mating strategy. Thus, psychopathic sex offenders will select victims of reproductive value. An explanation for male sex offenders who select children or male victims is the presence of neurodevelopmental perturbations that account for their non-sexually “fit” victim selection (i.e., deviant sexual arousal.) The relevant literature on the relationship among sex offenders, psychopathy, and neurodevelopmental impairments is reviewed with the goal of developing a working theory of sex offending that can discriminate between offenders who sexually assault children and males and those who assault females of reproductive age. The review concludes with the implications such a theory may have on the treatment and management of these offenders and the implications for public policy and prevention.
Evidential Basis for the Assessment and Treatment of Sex Offenders
Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 2008
This article will review current clinical knowledge on paraphilia and methods of assessment and treatment of sex offenders. In recent years, a better understanding of the physiological and psychological dynamics underlying abnormal sexual behavior was gained through advances on the neurobiology and neuropharmacology of sexual behaviour. Sex offenders form a heterogeneous group that presents a challenge regarding assessment. Components of a full comprehensive sexual behaviors assessment are discussed, detailing the evidence available on the use of penile plethysmography testing. Results of several studies showed that such testing discriminated child molesters from other sex offenders and non-offenders. Treatment modalities include a variety of pharmacological agents and psychological approaches, as treatment outcome studies demonstrate the overall effectiveness of treatment in reducing recidivism of sex offenders. Finally this article discusses future avenues for research, including research aimed at improving the validity and reliability of assessment of sex offenders and the development of non-invasive investigational procedures that make use of new information technology.
Contrary to public perception, child sex offending (CSO) and paedophilia are not the same. Only half of all cases of CSO are motivated by paedophilic preference, and a paedophilic preference does not necessarily lead to CSO. However, studies that investigated clinical factors accompanying and contributing to paedophilia so far mainly relied on paedophiles with a history of CSO. The aim of this study was to distinguish between factors associated with sexual preference (paedophile versus non-paedophile) and offender status (with versus without CSO). Accordingly, a 2 (sexual preference) Â 2 (offender status) factorial design was used for a comprehensive clinical assessment of paedophiles with and without a history of CSO (n = 83, n = 79 respectively), child sex offenders without paedophilia (n = 32) and healthy controls (n = 148). Results indicated that psychiatric comorbidities, sexual dysfunctions and adverse childhood experiences were more common among paedophiles and child sex offenders than controls. Offenders and non-offenders differed in age, intelligence, educational level and experience of childhood sexual abuse, whereas paedophiles and non-paedophiles mainly differed in sexual characteristics (e.g., additional paraphilias, onset and current level of sexual activity). Regression analyses were more powerful in segregating offender status than sexual preference (mean classification accuracy: 76% versus 68%). In differentiating between * Corresponding author at: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, European Psychiatry j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : h t t p : / / w w w. e u r o p s y-j o u r n a l. c o m offence-and preference-related factors this study improves clinical understanding of both phenomena and may be used to develop scientifically grounded CSO prevention and treatment programmes. It also highlights that some deviations are not traceable to just one of these two factors, thus raising the issue of the mechanism underlying both phenomena.
An Update on Theories and Treatment of Sex Offenders
This chapter aims to provide an overview of the theories and treatments of sex offenders. Sex offence is a major public health and social problem, a violation of human right and has innumerable consequence for the victim, including the community at large. It becomes important for health service providers and policy makers to understand this problem, which is not yet clearly understood. This chapter discusses the concept and definitions of sex offences, briefing on the main theories of sexual offence and treatments. Though many theories and treatments are available, more researches are required for the causes, prevention and interventions of sexual offences to have better clarity in the causes and effectiveness of treatments.
Offense related characteristics and psychosexual development of juvenile sex offenders
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 2009
Objective: This article reports on offense related characteristics and the psychosexual development in subgroups of juvenile sex offenders as measured by the Global Assessment Instrument for Juvenile Sex Offenders (GAIJSO). The predictive validity of these characteristics for persistent (sexual) offensive behavior in subgroups of juvenile sex offenders was investigated.
Sexual Offenders -Psychological Approaches
Proceedings Of The International Conference on Legal Medicine from Cluj, 3rd edition Vol. 2 , 2020
Sex offenders are clearly a heterogeneous group of individuals both in terms of the type of criminal behaviour (e.g., child molestation, rape, exhibitionism, frotteurism) and in terms of characteristics subsumed to each type. Many treatment programs are guided, quite explicitly, through very detailed manuals in which each client insists on fully participating in each stage of treatment. In these manual programs, the steps are presented in a fixed order and each step is allocated a fixed period of time. Treatment should be adjusted to the needs of each client, despite considerable evidence of heterogeneity and the allocation of sex offenders to specific treatment programs. Therefore, this paper address psychological approached used with sexual offenders diagnosed with paraphilic disorders.
Biopsychosocial characteristics of sex offenders: An analysis of legal proceedings
Estudos de Psicologia (Campinas)
In this research, biopsychosocial characteristics of people accused of sexual aggression against children/adolescents between 2012 and 2014, in three districts of the state of Pará, were identified and analyzed. Data were collected by consulting court cases and recorded on a form prepared by the research group for biopsychosocial characterization. The statistical treatment of the data involved the non-hierarchical k-means clustering method, with cluster analysis. The results revealed three distinct groups; some with certain similarities due to the biological characteristics observed (Afro-descendant men over the age of 30 years, without reported organic diseases), as well as psychological and social characteristics (men with defined occupation and work, living in urban areas, with aggression to the black victim and in the family context) and differences (schooling, alcohol abuse and physical or psychological aggression, victim sex and family attachment to the aggressor). Further stu...
Sex Offenders: General Information and Treatment
Psychiatric Annals, 2018
Sex offenders are often neglected by psychiatrists due to a deficiency in training and a lack of knowledge in the area of sexual offenders. Many sex offenders have a comorbid psychiatric illness, including paraphilic disorders. Research has established that sex offenders can be treated with evidence-based principles. Psychiatrists can serve a pivotal role in the evaluation and biological treatment of sex offenders. Together, psychiatrists can work toward primary prevention of sexual violence by learning the requisite skills to identify and treat risk factors of sexual abuse.
An integrated theory of sexual offending
Aggression and Violent Behavior, 2006
This paper represents a first attempt to provide an integrated framework to explain the onset, development, and maintenance of sexual offending. According to the Integrated Theory of Sexual Offending (ITSO), sexual abuse occurs as a consequence of a number of interacting causal variables. We examine the factors that affect brain development (evolution, genetic variations and neurobiology) and ecological factors (social and cultural environment, personal circumstances, physical environment) and discuss how they impact upon core neuropsychological functions underpinning human action. The ITSO then explains how clinical symptoms arise from the interaction between these neurological systems and ecological factors. The capacity of the ITSO to incorporate competing theories of sexual offending is considered, and we end the paper by critically evaluating its usefulness in stimulating research and further theory development.