NCJ Number
209467
Journal
Criminology Volume: 43 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2005 Pages: 249-281
Date Published
February 2005
Length
33 pages
Annotation
This study compared the utility of three common hypotheses explaining the male propensity for sexual aggression toward women.
Abstract
Three main hypotheses have been commonly extended toward the explanation of male sexual aggression against women: a general propensity to offend, a specific propensity to sexually offend, and a combination of both. The current study relied on structural equation modeling to test these three hypotheses. Survey data were collected from 577 adult males convicted of sexual offenses who received a sentence of imprisonment of at least 2 years in the province of Quebec. Data were collected on negative childhood experiences, sexualization, general deviance, sexual compulsivity, sexual criminal history, and nonsexual criminal history. Results of structural equation analyses indicated that the most adequate explanation of sexual aggression toward women involved the role of an early and persistent general propensity toward antisocial behavior during childhood and adolescence. After controlling for the role of this type of general propensity to offend, a modest proportion of the variance of sexual criminal activity was explained by the presence of sexualization and deviant sexual interests. These findings are considered exploratory because of the small sample. Thus, more research is necessary for a thorough understanding of the role of general deviance and sexualization in the development of criminal activity. Footnotes, figures, references