NCJ Number
243092
Date Published
2011
Length
35 pages
Annotation
This chapter reviews a variety of clinical theories of sex offenses, ranging from biological to holistic theories.
Abstract
Following an overview of definitions of sex offender, the history of clinical attitudes toward sex offenders is reviewed. This is followed by brief profiles of theories grouped by their primary characteristics. Single-factor theories are those that focus on one principal factor in sexual offending, such as biological theories, evolutionary theories, and psychoanalytic theory. Fifteen single-factor theories are outlined. Integrative theories draw from multiple behavioral disciplines in the belief that the complexity of sexual behavior requires borrowing from the relevant research findings of many sciences that shed light on human sexual behavior. Eight integrative theories are briefly explained. A more extensive discussion is provided of Schwartz and Cellini's (1995) integrative model of the dynamics of a sexual assault. This theory offers an explanation of individual sexual assaults rather than a discussion of the individual sex offender. This theory envisions the dynamics of a sexual assault as stemming from a reservoir of motivations, which can include anger, lack of power, fear of women, deviant arousal, and distorted attitudes. The floodgates of inhibitions that restrain a person from committing a sexual assault may be opened by stress, substance abuse, mental retardation, psychosis, brain damage, cognitive distortions, lack of empathy, pornography, and peer pressure. Victim selection may be related to environmental opportunities and victim attributes. Following the overview of various theories of sexual offending, the chapter's author advises there is a need to identify which treatment techniques are the most useful for various types of sex offenders, so that resources may be maximized. Only well-designed and well-implemented research will be able to address this issue. 130 references