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Sexual Offenses

Sexual offenses vary in terms of victim selection, intensity, frequency, duration, type of offense, and severity. Rape, paraphilia, incest, and sexual homicide are types of sexual offenses. There is a substantial body of research on each of these areas of sexual offending that further examines the etiology, typology, treatment, and criminal profiling of these offenders. In addition to the academic arena that provides research on the above-mentioned dimensions of sexual offenders and their subsequent behaviors, the criminal justice arena is a dimension that is typically responsible for the detection, apprehension, and prosecution of these offenders. The legal aspect of sexual offending is also responsible for creating laws that govern sexual behavior, as well as laws that punish such behaviors and ultimately protect society from such offenders. Notwithstanding, legal definitions of sexual offending, such as rape, vary from state to state.

Classification of Rape

Classification paradigms have been developed by social scientists in an attempt to advance their understanding of sexually deviant behavior. When examining behavior patterns of rapists, several typologies exist. The classic work of Nicolas Groth and colleagues has provided a solid foundation by which experts can further understand the underlying dynamics of rape, as well as the motivating factors.

According to Groth, rape from a clinical perspective is defined as any type of unwanted sexual activity imposed on a person against his or her will and without consent. Groth's typology consists of three categories; anger rapist, power rapist, and sadistic rapist. The following attributes are typical characteristics of these classifications (Groth & Hobson, 1997, chap. 8):

Anger Rapist

  • Aggression: use of physical force on victim.
  • Impulsive, spontaneous assault.
  • Offender's mood is depressed and angry.
  • Episodic offenses, short in duration.
  • Use of offensive language, humiliation, and obscene language.
  • No weapon, typically; if used, it is out of convenience and to hurt, not threaten, victim.
  • Victim selection based on availability as well as age preference, typically the same age as offender or older.
  • Psychological cognitions of offender are retaliatory aggression, retribution for perceived wrong, injustices, or rejections experienced.

Power Rapist

  • Aggression: use of threat or force to gain control.
  • Premeditated assault preceded by sexually violent fantasy.
  • Offender's mood is anxious.
  • Offenses are repetitive, with a likelihood of an increase of aggression and violence over time.
  • Language is intrusive and/or instructional: asking victim personal questions.
  • Victim may be held captive for a number of hours; attack may happen in a short period of time.
  • Use of personal weapon to threaten or intimidate victim.
  • Victim selection based on offender's perception of vulnerability.
  • Psychological dynamics are deep-seated feelings of insecurity and inadequacy, compensatory aggression to feel powerful and adequate.
  • Criminal history involving crimes of exploitation and of sexual offense.

Sadistic Rapist

  • Aggression: eroticized physical violence, force, and power.
  • Victim subjected to ritualistic behavior, torture, and abuse.
  • Calculated assault, preplanned.
  • Offender's mood is excitement.
  • Offenses are compulsive, structured and ritualistic; torture, sexual paraphilia.
  • Language is commanding, degrading.
  • Assault takes place over an extended period of time; victim abducted, held hostage, tortured, possibly killed and disposed of.
  • Weapon used to capture victim; use of restraints for bondage and torture.
  • Victim selection determined by specific characteristics, or symbolic representation, typically a complete stranger.
  • Psychological dynamics, eroticized aggression, and symbolism
  • Criminal history: none, or bizarre ritualistic or violent behavior.

Paraphilia

From a clinical perspective, paraphilia is defined as recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors generally involving nonhuman objects, the suffering or humiliation or oneself or one's partner, or children or other nonconsenting persons, that occur over a period of at least 6 months (see the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-IV). Paraphilias are common almost exclusively to males, who typically have multiple paraphilias, with one dominating. There are literally hundreds of paraphilias. Paraphilic behavior can be conceptualized as a continuum of behavior. A paraphilic can be classified as “mild,” “moderate,” or “severe.” A person functioning in the “mild” end of the spectrum may have some elements of behavior described in the DSM-IV yet may be able to function socially and sexually. Moreover, a person in the “mild” and “moderate” ends of the continuum may employ paraphilic practices in their sexual behavior occasionally yet can still function sexually without the paraphilic stimuli. When the person is unable to obtain sexual arousal and satisfaction without the paraphilic stimuli and fantasy, this behavior is considered pathological.

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