NCJ Number
178857
Journal
Aggression and Violent Behavior Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: January-February 2000 Pages: 1-22
Date Published
2000
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the definitions, epidemiology, evolving research, offenders, and offense characteristics of sexual homicide, a form of intentional killing that occurs in less than 1 percent of homicides in the United States.
Abstract
The review found that although the extant research is limited by few comparative studies; repetitive use of small, nonrandom samples; retrospective data; no prospective studies; and the absence of any predictive statistical analyses, the yield over the past 100 years is impressive. The author advances a clinical typology of sexual murderers. The first type of compulsive sexual murderer leaves behind organized crime scenes and is usually diagnosed with sexual sadism and antisocial/narcissistic personality disorders. This type is chronically emotionally detached, is often a primary psychopath, is autonomically hyporeactive, and typically has experienced no early trauma. The second type of catathymic sexual murderer leaves behind disorganized crime scenes and is usually diagnosed with a mood disorder and various personality disorders that may include schizoid and avoidant traits. These offenders crave attachment, are only moderately psychopathic, are autonomically hyperreactive, and have a history of physical and/or sexual trauma. 4 tables, 2 figures, and 84 references