Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sexual Offenders

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Experience, Meaning, and Identity in Sexuality

  • 1491 Accesses

Abstract

Sexually anomalous behaviour, sometimes referred to colloquially as perversion, tends to baffle and to outrage many people. We need to question, however, common understandings of normality. Given the wide range of sexual both exhibited and tolerated now, at least within many Western countries, it is very difficult to pinpoint any generally agreed upon sexual acts that can be described as generally abnormal aside from a few illegal ones. Until relatively recently in much of the Western world, same-sex relationships were regarded not just as abnormal but, depending on the nature of the sexual acts and the jurisdiction, illegal. Such a state of affairs still exists in some nations. Engaging in anything other than heterosexual relationships or heterosexual encounters can result in a death sentence, whether state conducted or simply state encouraged.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abel, G. G. & Blanchard, E. B. (1974). The role of fantasy in the treatment of sexual deviation. Archives of General Psychiatry, 30, 467–475.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Abel, G. G., Becker, J. V., & Cunningham-Rathner, J. (1984). Complications, consent, and cognitions in sex between children and adults. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 7, 89–103.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association (1952). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Washington: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual, 5th ed. (DSM-5). Washington: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barbaree, H. (1989). Denial and minimization among adolescent and adult sexual offenders. Paper presented at the Conference on the Adolescent Sexual Offender, Vancouver, November.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berliner, L. (1991). Clinical work with sexually abused children. In C. R. Hollin & K. Howells (Eds.), Clinical approaches to sex offenders and their victims (pp. 209–228). New York: Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brownmiller, S. (1975). Against our will: Men, women, and rape. New York: Simon and Shuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bumby, K. M. (1996). Assessing the cognitive distortions of child molesters and rapists: Development and validation of the RAPE and MOLEST scales. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 8, 37–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carnahan, T. E. (1987). Rapists’ perceptions of women: A repertory grid study. Unpublished B. A. honours thesis, University of Guelph, Guelph, April.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collings, S. J. (1997). Development, reliability, and validity of the child sexual abuse myth scale. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 12, 665–674.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darke, J. L. (1990). Sexual aggression: Achieving power through humiliation. In W. L. Marshall, D. R. Laws, & H. E. Barbaree (Eds.), Handbook of sexual assault (pp. 55–72). New York: Plenum.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Dingman, H. F., Frisbie, L., & Vanasek, F. J. (1968). Erosion of morale in resocialization of pedophiles. Psychological Reports, 23, 792–794.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fransella, F. & Adams, B. (1966). An illustration of the use of repertory grid technique in a clinical setting. British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 5, 51–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freshwater, K., Leach, C., & Aldridge, J. (2001). Personal constructs, childhood sexual abuse, and revictimization. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 74, 379–397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frisbie, L., Vanasek, F., & Dingman, H. (1967). The self and the ideal self: Methodological study of pedophiles. Psychological Reports, 20, 699–706.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hayashino, D. S., Wurtele, S. K., & Klebe, K. J. (1995). Child molesters: An examination of cognitive factors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 10, 106–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horley, J. (1988a). Cognitions of child sexual abusers. The Journal of Sex Research, 25, 542–545.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horley, J. (1988b). The construal of events: Personal constructs versus personal projects. In F. Fransella & L. Thomas (Eds.), Experimenting with personal construct psychology (pp. 359–368). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horley, J. (1995). Cognitive-behavior therapy with an incarcerated exhibitionist. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 39, 335–339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horley, J. (2000a). Cognitions supportive of child molestation. Aggression and Violent Behavior: A Review Journal, 5, 551–564.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horley, J. (2000b). Constructing an abnormal sexual identity: A personal construct account of perversion. Paper presented at “Understanding the social world: Constructions and identity”, Huddersfield, U.K., September.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horley, J. (2000c). Values and everyday activities. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 13, 67–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horley, J. (2001). Frotteurism: A term in search of an underlying disorder? Journal of Sexual Aggression, 7, 51–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horley, J. (2008). Sexual offenders: Personal construct theory and deviant sexual behaviour. Hove: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horley, J. & Quinsey, V. L. (1994). Assessing the cognitions of child molesters: Use of the semantic differential with incarcerated offenders. The Journal of Sex Research, 31, 187–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horley, J. & Quinsey, V. L. (1995). Child molesters’ construal of themselves, other adults, and children. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 8, 193–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horley, J., Quinsey, V. L., & Jones, S. (1997). Incarcerated childmolesters’ perceptions of themselves and others. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 9, 43–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houston, J. (1998). Making sense with offenders: Personal constructs, therapy and change. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howells, K. (1979). Some meanings of children for pedophiles. In M. Cook & G. Wilson (Eds.), Love and attraction (pp. 519–526). Oxford: Pergamon.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Howells, K. (1983). Social construing and violent behaviour in mentally abnormal offenders. In J. W. Hinton (Ed.), Dangerousness: Problems of assessment and prediction (pp. 114–129). London: Allen & Unwin.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, W. (1899). On some of life’s ideals. New York: Henry Holt & Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, L., Hudson, S. J., & Ward, T. (1997). The suppression of sexual thoughts by child molesters: A preliminary study. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 9, 303–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karp, C. & Rosner, C. (1991). When justice fails: The David Milgaard Story. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, G. A. (1955). The psychology of personal constructs (vol. 1 and 2, ). New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Landfield, A. W. (1971). Personal construct systems in psychotherapy. Chicago: Rand McNally.

    Google Scholar 

  • Landfield, A. W. & Epting, F. R. (1987). Personal construct psychology: Clinical and personality assessment. New York: Human Sciences Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanyon, R. I. (1986). Theory and treatment in child molestation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 176–182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MacCulloch, M. J., Snowden, P. R., Wood, P. J. W., & Mills, H. E. (1983). Sadistic fantasy, sadistic behavior, and offending. British Journal of Psychiatry, 143, 20–29.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, W. L. (1973). The modification of sexual fantasies: A combined treatment approach to the reduction of deviant sexual behavior. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 11, 557–564.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, W. L. (2006). Diagnosing and treating sexual offenders. In I. B. Weiner & A. K. Hess (Eds.), The handbook of forensic psychology (pp. 790–818). New York: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, W. L. & Barbaree, H. E. (1988). An outpatient treatment program for child molesters. In R. A. Prentky & V. L. Quinsey (Eds.), Human sexual aggression: Current perspectives (pp. 205–214). New York: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, W. L. & Barbaree, H. E. (1990). An integrated theory of the etiology of sexual offending. In W. L. Marshall, D. R. Laws, & H. E. Barbaree (Eds.), Handbook of sexual assault (pp. 257–278). New York: Plenum.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, W. L. & Mazzucco, A. (1995). Self-esteem and parental attachments of child molesters. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 7, 279–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, W. L., Marshall, L. E., Sachdev, S., & Kruger, R. L. (2003). Distorted attitudes and perceptions, and their relationship with self-esteem and coping in child molesters. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 15, 171–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martinson, R. (1974). What works? Questions and answers about prison reform. The Public Interest, 35, 22–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • May, R. (1972). Power and innocence: A search for the sources of violence. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCaghy, C. H. (1967). Child molesters: A study of their careers as deviants. In M. Clinnard & R. Quinney (Eds.), Criminal behaviour systems: A typology (pp. 75–88). New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCaghy, C. H. (1968). Drinking and deviance disavowal: The case of child molesters. Social Problems, 16, 43–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohr, J. W., Turner, R. E., & Jerry, M. B. (1964). Pedophilia and exhibitionism. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Needs, A. (1988). Psychological investigation of offending behavior. In F. Fransella & L. Thomas (Eds.), Experimenting with personal construct psychology (pp. 493–506). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, M. C. (1988). Reliability, validity, and cross-cultural comparisons for the simplified attitudes toward women scale. Sex Roles, 18, 289–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunes, K. L., McPhail, I. V., & Babchishin, K. M. (2012). Social anxiety and sexual offending against children: A cumulative meta-analysis. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 18, 284–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osgood, C. E., Suci, G. J., & Tannenbaum, P. (1957). The measurement of meaning. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prentky, R. A. & Knight, R. A. (1991). Identifying critical dimensions for discriminating among rapists. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 643–661.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krafft-Ebing, R. von (1935). Psychopathia sexualis: A medico-forensic study (12th ed.). New York: Physicians and Surgeons Book Company. (Original work published 1886.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinsey, V. L. (1977). The assessment and treatment of child molesters: A review. Canadian Psychological Review, 18, 204–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quinsey, V. L. (1986). Men who have sex with children. In D. N. Weisstub (Ed.), Law and mental health: International perspectives (vol. 2, pp. 140–172). New York: Pergamon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinsey, V. L., Bergersen, S. G., & Steinman, C. M. (1976). Changes in physiological and verbal responses of child molesters during aversion therapy. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 8, 202–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rada, R. T. (1978). Clinical aspects of the rapist. New York: Grune & Stratton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salter, A. C. (1988). Treating child sex offenders and victims: A practical guide. Beverly Hills: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seto, M. (2012). Is pedophilia a sexual orientation? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41, 231–236.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shorts, I. D. (1985). Treatment of a sex offender in a maximum security forensic hospital: Detecting changes in personality and interpersonal construing. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 29, 237–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stermac, L. E. & Segal, Z. V. (1989). Adult sexual contact with children: An examination of cognitive factors. Behavior Therapy, 20, 573–584.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stermac, L. E., Segal, Z. V., & Gillis, R. (1989). Social and cultural factors in sexual assault. In W. L. Marshall, D. R. Laws, & H. E. Barbaree (Eds.), Handbook of sexual assault (pp. 143–159). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, L. (1972). The significance and interpretation of replies to motivational questions: The case of the sex offender. Sociology, 6, 24–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, G. D. & Cox, D. N. (1983a). Personality of paedophile club members. Personality and Individual Differences, 4, 323–329.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, G. D. & Cox, D. N. (1983b). The child-lovers: A study of paedophiles in society. London: Peter Owen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winter, D. A. (2003b). A credulous approach to violence and homicide. In J. Horley (Ed.), Personal construct perspectives on forensic psychology (pp. 15–54). New York: Brunner-Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Augustana Campus, University of Alberta, Camrose, Alberta, Canada

    James Horley

  2. Associate Professor of Sociology, Algoma University, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada

    Jan Clarke

Authors
  1. James Horley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jan Clarke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Copyright information

© 2016 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Horley, J., Clarke, J. (2016). Sexual Offenders. In: Experience, Meaning, and Identity in Sexuality. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-40096-3_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation