Penile-response profiles of sexual aggressors during phallometric testing

Self-report psychopathy-III facet scores predict sexual crimes, sexual preferences, and sexual deviance index validity more precisely than total scores

Understanding the profiles of sexual offenders, such as the presence of psychopathic traits, is key to preventing future sexual crimes. The self-report psychopathy-III (SRP-III) is a tool used to assess the characteristics of psychopathy, but improvements on its interpretation are required to maximize its precision. The SRP-III can be interpreted by examining the scores on each of the four facets (interpersonal manipulation, callous affect, erratic lifestyle, antisocial behavior), on each of two factors (factor 1, factor 2), or by examining the total score. Here, we investigate the interpretation of the results from the SRP-III using these three approaches of analysis of the data for predicting types of sexual crimes, sexually deviant preferences (measured via PPG), and the validity of the sexual deviance results. Logistic regressions were carried out using either the four facets, two factors, or the total score of the SRP-III. Data were previously obtained from 198 Canadian men who were convicted of, or who admitted to committing, at least one sexual crime, or who reported experiencing sexually deviant fantasies. We also examined the point-biserial correlations between each of the methods of interpreting the SRP-III results and each of the dependent variables. We find that SRP-III facet scores most precisely predict types of sexual crimes, sexually deviant preferences, and sexual deviance index validity, followed by SRP-III factor scores, and lastly SRP-III total scores. Additionally, significant correlations are only found between SRP-III scores and one dependent variable. Potential reasons for this are discussed. Based on these findings, we recommend that future studies consider facet and factor scores in addition to the standard practice of examining total scores.

Developmental factors associated with inappropriate coping strategies among sexual aggressors of children

BACKGROUND

Many studies in the field of sexual offending focus on the presence of inadequate coping strategies prior to sexual offending, and the role these strategies play in the sequence of the offense. However, little is known about the development of strategies-such as substance abuse and, especially, deviant sexual fantasies-to manage daily difficulties.

OBJECTIVE

To better understand the antecedents of the development of inadequate coping strategies, we conducted a series of structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTINGS

Based on 274 sexual aggressors of children, these analyses were based on components of Maniglio (2011a) theoretical model, in which victimization before the age of 18 leads to the development of psychological problems and, ultimately, the reliance on deviant sexual fantasies as a coping strategy.

METHODS

Two models were created through exploratory factorial analysis: the first model comprised 19 manifest variables, while the second model consisted of 15 manifest variables. All the retained variables were related to Maniglio's (2011a) hypothesis.

RESULTS

The analyses not only confirm Maniglio's hypothesis but also produced two statistically significant models (RMSEA = 0.069, CFI = 0.93 and TLI = 0.92 for Model 1 & RMSEA = 0.074, CFI = 0.93 and TLI = 0.91 for Model 2) composed of three indirect trajectories and one direct trajectory on the one hand, and four indirect trajectories and one direct trajectory on the other hand.

CONCLUSIONS

These results are consistent with those of studies that have highlighted the heterogeneity of sexual aggressors of children.

A Test of Three Different Explanations for Low Stimulus Response Discrimination in Phallometric Testing

Phallometric assessment is used to assess men's sexual interest in children and to assist in risk assessment and treatment planning. A common response pattern, especially when the assessment is conducted in a forensic context, is an indiscriminate pattern of penile responses: No sexual stimulus seems to produce a substantially higher response than another. This indiscriminate response profile could be the result of (1) faking good (in particular, reducing the responses to child stimuli); (2) floor or ceiling effects caused by low or high arousability, or (3) non-exclusivity (the individual is similarly sexually interested in both children and adults). In this study of 2,858 adult male patients who underwent volumetric phallometric assessment for sexual interest in children between 1995 and 2011, we tested these three possible explanations. Results showed support for each of the explanations, but the variance accounted for in response discrimination was quite small when considering each explanation (separately or when considered together). We discuss avenues for future research to better discern the causes of indiscriminate responding in phallometric assessment.

Validating the Screening Scale of Pedophilic Crime Scene Behavior

The Screening Scale of Pedophilic Crime Scene Behavior (SSPC) is a seven-item structured rating scale assessing pedophilic sexual arousal. In the current study, we cross-validated the scale's convergent validity using multiple measures of sexual interest in children (clinical diagnosis of pedophilia, the high fixation/low social competence type of the MTC:CM4, and phallometric assessment of sexual interests toward children) in two independent samples (USA and Canada). In both samples and in relation to all three criteria, the SSPC showed acceptable (phallometry) to excellent (clinical assessment) diagnostic accuracy. Furthermore, the SSPC showed incremental validity in relation to the Screening Scale for Pedophilic Interest and at times outperformed it in convergent validity analyses. The current study also provides psychometric information that can help users choose an appropriate SSPC cutoff score.

Do psychological features distinguish those who sexually offend against different age groups from those who are stable in victim age?

Aim/Background

Victim age polymorphism occurs when someone offends against victims that span multiple age groups (e.g., child and adult victims). There is a need to better understand the correlates of age polymorphism, as clinicians are often asked about risk of offending against victims who may differ from the index offence victim as part of their risk formulation. The present study examines several potential correlates of age polymorphism: psychopathy, sexual preoccupation, multiple paraphilias, psychosis, and substance use disorders.

Materials/Method

Analyses were conducted using secondary clinical assessment data from a provincial forensic sexual behaviour program. The sample included 387 men with two or more contact sexual offence victims. The assessment data in the archival database included comprehensive information about victim age, as well as standardized assessment measures and diagnostic/clinical impressions.

Results

There were no significant associations between age polymorphism and psychopathy, multiple paraphilias, sexual preoccupation, psychosis, and substance use disorders. The only significant difference that emerged was that men who offended against victims 16 or older had a higher mean score on a measure of drug misuse than those who offended against victims 6 to 11. Most of the analyses produced small effects.

Conclusion

Our findings did not identify significant correlates of age polymorphism when restricting analyses to those men who offended against two or more victims. We consider key methodological differences that may have impacted our findings, as well as the need for rigorously designed research to develop a comprehensive model of age polymorphism.

Occurrence and clinical characteristics of Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD): A cluster analysis in two independent community samples

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) is characterized by a persistent failure to control intense and recurrent sexual impulses, urges, and/or thoughts, resulting in repetitive sexual behavior that causes a marked impairment in important areas of functioning. Despite its recent inclusion in the forthcoming ICD-11, concerns regarding its assessment, diagnosis, prevalence or clinical characteristics remain. The purpose of this study was to identify participants displaying CSBD through a novel data-driven approach in two independent samples and outline their sociodemographic, sexual, and clinical profile.

METHODS

Sample 1 included 1,581 university students (females = 56.9%; Mage = 20.58) whereas sample 2 comprised 1,318 community members (females = 43.6%; Mage = 32.37). First, we developed a new composite index to assess the whole range of CSBD symptoms based on three previously validated scales. Based on this new composite index, we subsequently identified individuals with CSBD through a cluster analytic approach.

RESULTS

The estimated occurrence of CSBD was 10.12% in sample 1 and 7.81% in sample 2. Participants with CSBD were mostly heterosexual males, younger than respondents without CSBD, reported higher levels of sexual sensation seeking and erotophilia, an increased offline and especially online sexual activity, more depressive and anxious symptoms, and poorer self-esteem.

CONCLUSIONS

This research provides further evidence on the occurrence of CSBD based on an alternative data-driven approach, as well as a detailed and nuanced description of the sociodemographic, sexual, and clinical profile of adults with this condition. Clinical implications derived from these findings are discussed in detail.

Victim Crossover Index Offending Patterns and Predictors in a Portuguese Sample

Sex offenders who cross over in victims' age, gender and relationship usually have a greater number of victims, which is associated with sexual recidivism. This investigation aimed to examine the prevalence of crossover index offending in Portugal, and to explore the predictive ability of sociodemographic and criminological variables on this outcome. A retrospective sample of 247 male individuals incarcerated for sex offenses in a Portuguese prison was drawn from official records. From those offenders with multiple victims (n = 94), 48% had victims of different age categories, 10% had both gendered victims, and 12% had intrafamilial and extrafamilial victims. Comparative statistics and logistic regressions were able to identify variables that distinguished noncrossover and crossover offenders and that predicted crossover, respectively. While likely underestimates of the prevalence of victim crossover, these findings are compared to previous international studies and provide a better understanding of the phenomenon.

Sexual Interests of Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM) Consumers: Four Patterns of Severity Over Time

This study analyzed the evolution over time of the activity of consumers of child sexual exploitation material (CSEM). To this end, images and metadata were extracted from the hard drives of 40 individuals convicted of possession of child pornography and analyzed. A sample of these images ( N = 61,244) was categorized by the age of the subjects depicted and-using the Combating Paedophile Information Networks in Europe (COPINE) scale-by severity of the acts depicted. Collecting activity was observed to follow four patterns. The most prevalent pattern was a progressive decrease in the age of the person depicted and a progressive increase in the severity of the sexual acts. In light of the results, we propose four explanations of the nature of, and variations in, child-pornography collections.

Biopsychosocial characteristics of sex offenders: An analysis of legal proceedings

Abstract In this research, biopsychosocial characteristics of people accused of sexual aggression against children/adolescents between 2012 and 2014, in three districts of the state of Pará, were identified and analyzed. Data were collected by consulting court cases and recorded on a form prepared by the research group for biopsychosocial characterization. The statistical treatment of the data involved the non-hierarchical k-means clustering method, with cluster analysis. The results revealed three distinct groups; some with certain similarities due to the biological characteristics observed (Afro-descendant men over the age of 30 years, without reported organic diseases), as well as psychological and social characteristics (men with defined occupation and work, living in urban areas, with aggression to the black victim and in the family context) and differences (schooling, alcohol abuse and physical or psychological aggression, victim sex and family attachment to the aggressor). Further studies may refine the preliminary conclusions of these analyses.

Assessing Sexual Interest in Children Using the Go/No-Go Association Test

The present study investigated whether a latency-based Go/No-Go Association Task (GNAT) could be used as an indirect measure of sexual interest in children. A sample of 29 individuals with a history of exclusive extrafamilial offenses against a child and 15 individuals with either a history of exclusive intrafamilial or mixed offenses (i.e., against both adults and children) were recruited from a treatment center in the United States. Also, a sample of 26 nonoffenders was recruited from a university in the United Kingdom. All participants completed the Sexual Fantasy-GNAT, a Control-GNAT, and two self-report measures of sexual fantasy. It was hypothesized that, relative to the two comparison groups, the extrafamilial group would respond faster on the block that paired "sexual fantasy" and "children." Also, GNAT scores were expected to correlate with child-related sexual fantasies. Support was found for both hypotheses. Response-latency indices were also found to effectively distinguish the extrafamilial group, as well as those who self-reported using child-related sexual fantasies. The implications of these findings, along with the study's limitations and suggestions for future research, are discussed.

Sexual Aggressors Against Women's Sexual Lives: A Latent Class Analysis

This study investigated the day-to-day deviant and nondeviant sexuality of a sample of Canadian sexual aggressors against women ( N = 160). Using latent class analysis, three latent classes were identified: internalized deviant (ID), low sexual problem (LSP), and hypersexual deviant (HD). Following the latent class analysis, the developmental, physiological, cognitive, and criminological correlates of these lifestyles were analyzed. ID ( n = 31) aggressors were characterized by sexual dissatisfaction, sexual deviance, and a bland sexual life. LSP ( n = 116) aggressors were characterized by the absence of sexual deviance or hypersexuality. HD ( n = 13) aggressors were characterized by hypersexuality and sexual deviance. Our exploratory study suggests that the day-to-day nondeviant and deviant sexual life of sexual aggressors against women appear to affect their modus operandi. Furthermore, the adult sexual lifestyles of sexual aggressors against women appear to be extensions of their adolescent sexual lifestyles. The results of this study thus suggest avenues for research-notably, the specific influence of sexual behaviours and internalized psychosexual problems on modus operandi-that could improve the clinical management of sexual aggressors against women.

Age Diversity Among Victims of Hebephilic Sexual Offenders

Hebephilia refers to sexual interest in pubescent children who are beginning to show early signs of sexual development but are sexually immature. The present study examined the relationship between hebephilia and victim age choice in a sample of 2,238 adult male sexual offenders. On average, offenders were 39 years old at the time of their assessments, and approximately half (48%) were referred by probation or parole offices. Assessment data included self-report, sexual arousal measured by volumetric phallometry, and victims' ages. Results suggested that, similar to pedophilia, hebephilia had a medium sized association with a greater number of victims under age 11 and a small sized association with a greater number of victims ages 11 to 14. Unlike pedophilia, a small positive association was consistently found between hebephilia and a greater number of victims ages 15 or 16. Furthermore, a small positive association was observed between victim age polymorphism and hebephilia and pedophilia. The present results suggested that hebephilia was associated with a greater number of victims age 14 or younger and had similar victim age correlates to pedophiles.

Convergent Validity of Three Measures of Sexual Sadism: Value of a Dimensional Measure

Sexual sadism can be described as the sexual pleasure produced by acts of cruelty and bodily punishment. The most common method for evaluating sexual sadism is clinical evaluation, that is, evaluation based on the diagnostic criteria of nosological instruments such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM) or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). It is also possible to evaluate sadistic sexual preferences by phallometry, which provides a physiological measure of sexual excitation by deviant and nondeviant scenarios. The most recently developed evaluation method is the Severe Sexual Sadism Scale (SESAS), a dimensional instrument that has been empirically validated. Despite the availability of all these measurement techniques, very little research has been conducted on their degree of convergence. Consequently, the aim of the current study was to assess the relationship between these three measures of sexual sadism. Our analyses were conducted on a sample of rapists ( N = 72), assessed in a maximum-security penitentiary. There was no significant relation between phallometric scores and other measures of sexual sadism. There was, however, an important correlation between SESAS scores and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV) sexual sadism diagnosis. Our results are consistent with other phallometric studies, which reported no difference in the penile responses of individuals diagnosed as sadists and those not diagnosed as sadists. Results and implications for future research are discussed.

Validity in Phallometric Testing for Sexual Interests in Children: A Meta-Analytic Review

Valid assessment of pedohebephilic interests (i.e., sexual interest in children) is fundamental to forensic clinical practice. Phallometric testing-which measures changes in penile circumference or volume, while stimuli depicting different ages and sexual activities are presented-is widely used in clinical and research settings to detect such interests. This meta-analysis summarizes studies comparing sexual offenders against children and various types of controls on phallometric tests for pedohebephilic interests (37 samples; N = 6,785) and studies examining the relationship between phallometric test scores and sexual reoffending (16 samples; N = 2,709). The findings suggest that several phallometric testing procedures are valid indicators of pedohebephilic interest. Certain methodological features of phallometric tests were associated with greater validity, such as, slide or audio-plus-slide stimuli and z-score-based indices. In addition, phallometric tests for pedohebephilic, pedophilic, and hebephilic interests predicted sexual reoffending which provides further evidence that phallometric test scores are valid indicators of sexual interest in children. In general, the interpretation of phallometric test scores as indicators of pedohebephilic interests is supported.

Phallometric assessments of sexual interests: an update

This paper reviews recent evidence on the value of phallometric (i.e., erectile) measures of sex offenders plus earlier crucial papers. Distinctions are made between types of measuring devices with the volumetric instrument appearing to be the most sensitive. Considering the meaning of responses it is concluded that arousal below 10 % of full erection is not reliably interpretable and that only deviant profiles (those displaying equal or greater arousal to deviant sex) can be confidently interpreted. The specificity and sensitivity of phallometry is satisfactory with child molesters but not with other types of sex offenders, although there remains a need to satisfactorily distinguish among subtypes of child molesters. There are enduring disagreements concerning the meaning of rapists' responses and no test has yet reliably identified deviance among exhibitionists. It is concluded that despite its long history, problems remain with phallometric assessments and clinicians should be cautious in interpreting the meaning of these responses.