Sex Offenders

Etiology: Nature versus Nurture

Within the large body of research on the various causes of sexual offending, a dichotomy exists between the “nature versus nurture” theories. Some theorists believe that sexual offenders are “born” not made, and some feel that sexual offenders are products of their environments. Theorists who contend that sexual criminals are born with a proclivity for sexual offending focus on certain biological factors. A biological example would be the XYY chromosome theory, examining the relationship between violent behavior and the abnormal, extra Y chromosome. Another biological explanation for the causation of sexual offending lies in the theory that sexual offenders may have inherited personality traits, predisposing them to commit acts of sexual violence.

[Page 426]Some theorists examine environmental factors that may shape and influence sexually aberrant behaviors. Such environmental factors may be the interpersonal relationship between the offender and his primary care provider. Research indicates that those who commit sexual violence are more likely to have been victims of abuse, which was typically sexually violent in nature.

Despite the long-standing debate over nature versus nurture, the causes of sexual offending are multidimensional. The reality is that there are many interactive factors to consider in an attempt to fully understand the dynamics of the underlying causes of sexual offenders.

Elements of the Sexual Offender