Raymond Knight

The earliest speculation aimed at understanding the heterogeneity of sexually aggressive behavior took the form of typological systems that attempted to group individuals who had sexually aggressed (ISAs) into distinct types. These speculative systems have over the years been joined by a vast array of studies that have generated hypothetical types using an array of cluster analytic procedures that have used a variety of input measures. Few systematic studies have clearly operationalized these proposed distinctions, reliably assigned individuals to the purported categories, and rigorously tested the validity of the resultant system. Moreover, until recently there were no explorations of whether proposed types represented distinctions in kind versus simply quantitative differences along continua. One program, originally called the Massachusetts Treatment Center (MTC) typology program, has attempted to integrate both deductive and inductive strategies, to generate reliable criteria for classification, to test their validity, and to use taxometrics to explore whether categorical or dimensional models are optimal for studying the heterogeneity among ISAs. This chapter documents the methodological challenges that have plagued the search for ISA typologies and summarizes the progress that this program has made in addressing these methodological stumbling blocks. The important guiding principles that have emerged from this program are discussed, their potential for improving assessment, treatment, and disposition is delineated, and recommendations are proposed about the directions of future research that flow from this program.

The current chapter examines the history and empirical literature on sadism and sexual sadism and its association with psychopathy. Whether measured by self-report or rated from archival files, whether assessed as dimensional or as categorical, there are significant associations between psychopathy and sadism. Both conditions present an individual that enjoys violating others often with violence, and there is strong evidence that although not the same construct, psychopathy and sadism are inextricably linked.
This chapter examines the history and empirical literature on sadism and sexual sadism and its association with psychopathy. Psychopathy is a serious personality disorder, notorious for its hallmark features, such as lack of guilt and conscience, callous disregard of others, marked impulsivity, and chronic antisocial behavior. The association between psychopathy and sexual aggression is of particular interest and significance. Psychopathy is a complex disorder, characterized by a constellation of interpersonal, affective, and lifestyle/behavioral features, such as superficial charm, callousness and lack of empathy, impulsivity, and chronic antisocial behavior Sadism and psychopathy have both been theoretically, clinically, and empirically related to violence and to sexually coercive behaviors. Psychopathy is highly prevalent among sexual offenders and among sexual murderers. Mokros et al. explored the empirical relation between the severe sexual sadism scale and the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised in a sample of 100 male forensic patients from Germany. C. A. Robertson and R. A. Knight also investigated the relation between sexual sadism and psychopathy.

Because little is known about the development and cross-temporal stability of sexual sadism, aetiological models of sadism have remained elusive. Various formative experiences in childhood (i.e. parental infidelity/divorce and vicarious violence) have been linked to sadism in adulthood, as have some behavioural indicators in adolescence (e.g. excessive and compulsive sexual behaviours and deviant fantasies). This chapter examines the roles that early psychological, physical, and sexual abuse play in the development of aggressive, antisocial, and hypersexual fantasies and behaviours during adolescence, as well as in the manifestation of sexual sadism in adulthood.
This chapter examines the roles that early psychological, physical, and sexual abuse play in the development of aggressive, antisocial, and hypersexual fantasies and behaviours during adolescence, as well as in the manifestation of sexual sadism in adulthood. Forensic sexual sadists desire control and domination over their victims. They exhibit emotional detachment that dehumanizes their victims, and an aggressive narcissism that makes them feel entitled to do as they please with their victims. Traditionally, sexual sadism and hypersexual behaviour have been associated with the paraphilias. Sexual sadism is classified as a paraphilia and hypersexuality has been hypothesized to be a less severe paraphilia-related disorder. Maltreatment in childhood has emerged as an aetiological precursor to the development of hypersexuality, with victims of abuse reporting higher levels of sexual compulsivity, drive, and fantasies. Sadists exhibit numerous conduct problems and antisocial behaviours, and are involved in numerous assaultive incidents in adolescence.

Using the overarching framework of the risk/needs/responsivity principles of Andrews and Bonta (2006), this chapter identifies the criminogenic needs that have been emerged most consistently as treatment targets for juveniles who have sexually offended (JSOs). Empirical studies supporting the selection of each domain are presented and the assessment tools that have the most research support with JSOs are described and evaluated. The treatment needs reviewed are: hypersexuality and sexual deviance; age and gender sexual preferences; antisocial behavior; callous-unemotional trait; aggressive fantasies and behavior; intimacy and friendships; and victimization. We recommend that clinicians assessing JSOs either generate their own batteries from the reviewed tools or select instruments using different methods that have been created to assess all of the critical domains.

The aim of this chapter is to identify and briefly discuss those situational, dispositional, and life course variables that increase the probability of sexually coercive behavior. We focus on male perpetrators, who commit the great majority of acts of sexual violence. We do not include the literature on predicting the risk of recidivism of offenders who have been adjudicated for sexual crimes or any discussion of modern evolutionary explanations of ultimate causation. Finally, because those who target children as sexual victims differ substantially in etiology, disposition, risk factors, and life course from those who sexually coerce peers and women (e.g., Bard et al., 1987; Knight & Thornton, 2007), we focus only on the risk factors for the latter. The intention of the chapter is practical. The strategy of trying to reduce sexually aggressive behavior only by treating and managing offenders is costly to survivors and to society and has yielded at best modest efficacy (e.g., Hanson et al., 2002). Consequently, society must pursue the more promising approaches to reducing sexually coercive behavior that lie in prevention and early intervention. Such strategies require well-founded models of etiology and developmental course to guide the fashioning of interventions and policies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)