Sex Offenders

     The incidence of sex crimes that is indicated through official records is misleading. This is due to an underreporting of sex offences by victims, changes in laws of what can be considered a sex offence, and changes in police policies (i.e., the consideration of chil complaints). Self-report surveys of victims and offenders show a much higher rate than official records. The incidence of offences varies according to the type and severity of the crime. For a description of the various sexual crimes see the abnormal psychology section. About half of all adult sex offenders commit their first crime during adolescence.

     The major factors involved in sexual aggression are abnormal sexual preferences (sadism and rape), anger/hostility (especially towards women), power/control/domination and humiliation of the victim, depression and hopelessness, alcohol and drugs, a preference for aggressive sexual pornography and nonsexual violence, behavioural impulsivity, hyper sexuality and psychotic disorders.

     Deviant sexual arousal is the main factor in sexual offences. Child molestation is one of these deviant items of arousal. Child molesters as a group tend to show a greater arousal to children than adults or approximately equal. But there is a difference between child molesters and pedophiles. Pedophilia implies a sexual attraction to young children, but some child molesters do not show a sexual preference for children or even an unusual sexual attraction. When this is the case there usually exist other characteristics of the offender that explain the offence (i.e., anger, control, dominance, revenge).

Related Links

Criminal Behaviour
Mentally Disordered & Psychopaths
Rapists