Comparing indicators of sexual sadism as predictors of recidivism among adult male sexual offenders.

Sadism was initially described as the experience of sexual pleasure produced by acts of cruelty and bodily punishment. Sadism was conceptualized as if sadists were fundamentally different from nonsadists. Recent studies have suggested that sadism is distributed as a dimension rather than as a category. The aim of the current study was to assess the psychometric properties the MTC Sexual Sadism Scale. Our analyses were conducted on a sample of 486 sexual offenders assessed at a correctional institution in Massachusetts. In summary, the results indicate that the MTC Sexual Sadism Scale possesses good psychometric properties for the dimensional assessment of severe sexual sadism with behavioral markers. Moreover, the scale captures a wide range of intensity of sadism among sexual offenders. These results are consistent with prior research and support the current consensus to move toward a dimensional interpretation of sadism. Implications both for clinical assessment and for research on the development of sadism are discussed.

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Diagnosing Sexual Sadism in Sexual Offenders: Reliability across Diagnosticians

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology ◽

10.1177/0306624x02238161 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 46 (6) ◽

pp. 668-677 ◽

Cited By ~ 63

Author(s):

W. L. Marshall ◽

Pamela Kennedy ◽

Pamela Yates ◽

Geris Serran

Keyword(s):

Sexual Offenders ◽

Sexual Sadism

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Emotional Congruence With Children Is Associated With Sexual Deviancy in Sexual Offenders Against Children

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology ◽

10.1177/0306624x15620830 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 61 (12) ◽

pp. 1311-1334 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Chantal A. Hermann ◽

Ian V. McPhail ◽

L. Maaike Helmus ◽

R. Karl Hanson

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Sexual Offenders ◽

Adult Male ◽

Sexual Offending ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Community Supervision ◽

Sexual Deviancy ◽

Distorted Cognitions ◽

Social Loneliness

Emotional congruence with children is a psychologically meaningful risk factor for sexual offending against children. The present study examines the correlates of emotional congruence with children in a sample of 424 adult male sexual offenders who started a period of community supervision in Canada, Alaska, and Iowa between 2001 and 2005. Consistent with previous work, we found sexual offenders against children high in emotional congruence with children were more likely to be sexually deviant, have poor sexual self-regulation, experience social loneliness, and have more distorted cognitions about sex with children. Overall, our findings are most consistent with a sexual deviancy model, with some support for a blockage model.

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