scholarly journals The relevance of sexual biographies in individuals convicted of child sexual abuse offenses for the development of pedosexual interests and sexual recidivism

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisanne Breiling ◽  
Martin Rettenberger ◽  
Daniel Turner
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Sexual Experiences ◽  
Sexual Recidivism ◽  
Sexual Offenses ◽  
Developmental Factors ◽  
Sexually Abusive ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Behavior Characteristics

In the literature concerning the etiology of pedosexual interests, the potential role of early sexual experiences in childhood and adolescence has been discussed. Several studies demonstrated a link between own sexually abusive experiences in childhood and sexual offending later in life which tends to be even stronger for pedosexual offenders. Furthermore, some findings indicate associations between other developmental factors and deviant sexual interests in adulthood. For the present study, sexual biographical data of N = 223 imprisoned men convicted of sexual offenses against children from Austria was analyzed to retrospectively examine whether own sexually abusive experiences and non-abusive forms of early sexual experiences and behaviors are linked to subsequent pedosexual interests and to sexual recidivism. Previous findings concerning the link between own sexually abusive experiences during childhood and subsequent pedosexual interests could partly be replicated. Furthermore, early masturbation behavior characteristics as well as non-abusive prepubescent sexual experiences were linked to indicators of pedosexual interests and also to sexual recidivism. Exclusively pedophilic men showed the strongest accumulation of early sexual experiences and behaviors. Implications of the findings for theory and risk assessment are discussed.

Pornography Use and Sexual Offending: An Examination of Perceptions of Role and Risk

2021 ◽  
pp. 0306624X2110491
Author(s):  
Karen Holt ◽  
James Kissinger ◽  
Corey Spickler ◽  
Vicki Roush
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Sexual Offense ◽  
Central Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sexual Crimes ◽  
Sexual Offenses ◽  
Increase Risk ◽  
Pornography Use ◽  
Abstinence Only

Despite no definitive relationship between pornography and sexual offenses, there exists an assumption that use plays a role in the commission of sexual crimes and may increase risk of recidivism. This has led to the development of post-release restrictions on adult media for those convicted of a sexual offense. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 101 incarcerated individuals convicted of a sexual offense to explore the central research questions: (1) What are the common themes among individual’s experiences regarding pornography and how do they construct the role of pornography in their offending? (2) How do they frame pornography use post-release and understand pornography use as related to risk of re-offense? A qualitative analysis revealed common themes regarding how individuals constructed pornography use and notions of risk. Strategic and targeted monitoring and supervision of those who perceive their pornography use as consuming and facilitating may be a more effective practice than abstinence-only blanket restrictions.

Convergent and Predictive Associations of Three Measures of Pedophilic Interest

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 107906322096804
Author(s):  
Ian V. McPhail ◽  
Mark E. Olver ◽  
Terry P. Nicholaichuk ◽  
Andy Haynes
Keyword(s):  
Test Scores ◽  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Violence Risk ◽  
Sexual Deviance ◽  
Sexual Recidivism ◽  
Violence Reduction ◽  
Sexual Offenses ◽  
Moderate Relationship ◽  
Risk Scale ◽  
Static Risk

Pedophilic interest is a central risk factor for sexual offending against children. Multiple measures exist to assess pedophilic interest, and the present study aims to provide validity evidence for three of these measures in a sample of men convicted of sexual offenses. The association between a phallometric test for pedophilic interest, the Screening Scale for Pedophilic Interest (SSPI), and the sexual deviance factor of the Violence Risk Scale–Sexual Offense (VRS-SO) version was examined in a sample of 261 men who participated in sexual violence reduction services. The association between these measures and sexual recidivism, both as sole predictors and while controlling for static risk, was also assessed. The second aim of the study was to examine the validity of different methods for modeling the distribution of pedophilic interests, using phallometric test scores, based on the findings in recent taxometric research. The measures generally showed a positive and moderate relationship with each other and predicted sexual recidivism. However, the SSPI did not significantly predict sexual recidivism, and when controlling for static risk, only the VRS-SO Sexual Deviance factor significantly predicted this outcome. Modeling phallometric test scores continuously and trichotomously produced significant associations with sexual recidivism; however, only a trichotomous model with two levels remained predictive after controlling for static risk. The results are broadly supportive of measures of pedophilic interest and underscore the importance of appropriately modeling the latent structure of pedophilic interest.

The Predictive Validity of the Static-99, Static-99R, and Static-2002/R: Which One to Use?

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 887-907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie G. Reeves ◽  
James R. P. Ogloff ◽  
Melanie Simmons
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Predictive Validity ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Predictive Accuracy ◽  
Risk Measures ◽  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Sexual Recidivism ◽  
Sexual Offenses ◽  
Risk Categories

The use of Static tools (Static-99, Static-99R, Static-2002, and Static-2002R) in risk decision making involving sexual offenders is widespread internationally. This study compared the predictive accuracy and incremental validity of four Static risk measures in a sample of 621 Australian sexual offenders. Results indicated that approximately 45% of the sample recidivated (with 18.8% committing sexual offenses). All of the Static measures investigated yielded moderate predictive validity for sexual recidivism, which was comparable with other Australian and overseas studies. Area under the curve (AUC) values for the four measures across the 5-, 10-, and 15-year intervals ranged from .67 to .69. All of the Static measures discriminated quite well between low-risk and high-risk sexual offenders but less well for the moderate risk categories. When pitted together, none of the tools accounted for additional variance in sexual recidivism, above and beyond what the other measures accounted for. The overall results provide support for the use of Static measures as a component of risk assessment and decision making with Australian sexual offending populations. The limitations of this study and recommendations for further research are also discussed.

scholarly journals “Mixed” Sexual Offending Against Both Children and Adults: An Empirical Comparison With Individuals Who Exclusively Offended Against Child or Adult Victims

2021 ◽  
pp. 009385482110028
Author(s):  
Eva Link ◽  
Friedrich Lösel
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Sexual Recidivism ◽  
Empirical Comparison ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Sexual Offenses ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
History Of ◽  
Sexually Offended ◽  
Methodological Difficulties

Individuals who sexually offended against both children and adults might be particularly dangerous. However, studies on this group are rare due to methodological difficulties. We investigated adverse childhood experiences, criminological variables, and other characteristics as well as recidivism in individuals who sexually offended against mixed-aged victims (ISOMAVs) compared to individuals who exclusively offended against adults (ISOAs) or children (ISOCs). Compared to previous studies, we applied more stringent classification criteria by including only individuals with at least two past sexual offenses. Analyses revealed that ISOMAVs more often had an extensive history of sexual offending. In addition, they were more likely than ISOAs to assault males, and more likely than ISOCs to assault strangers. Violent reoffending was more common in ISOMAVs compared to ISOCs, but ISOMAVs showed no more sexual recidivism. Other findings, limitations, and implications for research and practice are discussed.

scholarly journals Circles of Support and Accountability: The Role of Social Relations in Core Member Desistance

2020 ◽  
pp. 0306624X2096409
Author(s):  
Kelly Richards
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Sexual Recidivism ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Core Member ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Previous Scholarship ◽  
Do So

Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) appear to reduce the sexual recidivism of core members (i.e., individuals convicted of sexual offending). It remains unclear, however, how they do so. While much previous scholarship has hypothesized that the relations between core members and CoSA volunteers promote desistance from sexual offending, there has been no theoretically-informed research that specifically interrogates these relations. This article begins to address this gap by examining the relations formed in and by CoSA through the lens of Donati’s theory of relational reflexivity. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 62 CoSA participants across six CoSA programs located in the USA and Canada, it proffers a new theorization of the role of social relations in core members’ desistance. Findings from the study will enable CoSA practitioners around the globe to explicate and deepen their practice around more rigorous theoretical precepts.

The Role of Positive and Negative Affectivity in Healthy and Unhealthy Work-Related Behavior and Experiences

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Hofmann ◽  
Carl-Walter Kohlmann
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affectivity ◽  
Coping Behavior ◽  
Common Method ◽  
Positive Affectivity ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Teacher Students ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Main Effects ◽  
Positive And Negative Affectivity

Abstract. Positive affectivity (PA) and negative affectivity (NA) are basic traits that affect work-related perceptions and behaviors and should be considered in any assessment of these variables. A quite common method to assess healthy or unhealthy types of work-related perceptions and behaviors is the questionnaire on Work-Related Coping Behavior and Experience Patterns (WCEP). However, the association of PA and NA with WCEP remained unclear. In a sample of teachers, physiotherapists, and teacher students ( N = 745; Mage = 35.07, SD = 12.49; 78% females), we aimed to identify the relevance of these basic traits. After controlling for age, gender, and type of occupation, we found main effects of PA and NA, with the specific combination of PA and NA being decisive for predicting the assignment to a WCEP type. The results highlight the need to include PA and NA in future assessments with the WCEP questionnaire.

scholarly journals Psychobiological risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adolescence: a consideration of the role of puberty

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany C. Ho ◽  
Anthony J. Gifuni ◽  
Ian H. Gotlib
Keyword(s):  
Pubertal Timing ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Neural Systems ◽  
Hormonal Changes ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Social Stressors ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors ◽  
Pubertal Transition

AbstractSuicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents. While clinicians and researchers have begun to recognize the importance of considering multidimensional factors in understanding risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) during this developmental period, the role of puberty has been largely ignored. In this review, we contend that the hormonal events that occur during puberty have significant effects on the organization and development of brain systems implicated in the regulation of social stressors, including amygdala, hippocampus, striatum, medial prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex. Guided by previous experimental work in adults, we also propose that the influence of pubertal hormones and social stressors on neural systems related to risk for STBs is especially critical to consider in adolescents with a neurobiological sensitivity to hormonal changes. Furthermore, facets of the pubertal transition, such as pubertal timing, warrant deeper investigation and may help us gain a more comprehensive understanding of sex differences in the neurobiological and psychosocial mechanisms underlying adolescent STBs. Ultimately, advancing our understanding of the pubertal processes that contribute to suicide risk will improve early detection and facilitate the development of more effective, sex-specific, psychiatric interventions for adolescents.

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