NCJ Number
162116
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1996) Pages: 204-214
Date Published
1996
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This article describes the most common types of deviant sexual behaviors that criminal justice practitioners will encounter; it also sensitizes professionals to the possibility that crime scenes and evidence that may not initially appear to be sexual in nature may have sexual overtones.
Abstract
The author discusses both the nondangerous and dangerous types of sex crimes and perversions, all of which are deemed abnormal in American society. Rape is not discussed, since the author considers it a violent offense independent of its sexual content and is thoroughly discussed in the literature. The nondangerous offenses and behaviors briefly discussed are exhibitionism; voyeurism; frottage (sexual pleasure by rubbing, hugging, or feeling a person or sexual object); triolism (exhibitionism or voyeurism that involves three or more persons); bestiality (copulation between humans and animals); zoophilia (arousal of sexual emotions from stroking, petting, smelling, or being in association with a certain animal); and pygmalionism (sexual desire or attraction for statues or mannequins). Regarding these nondangerous sexual behaviors, the author notes that many are only nuisances, but persons seldom manifest only one such behavior; they will often practice multiple and sometimes more dangerous perversions. The "dangerous" perversions discussed are those considered by the author to present, by their very nature, the potential for injury. The dangerous perversions profiled are gerontophilia (younger people having a sexual fixation on older persons); flagellation (passion to beat, whip, or club someone or to be the recipient of such pain); necrophilia (sexual intercourse with dead bodies); piquerism (sexual satisfaction from stabbing, piercing, or cutting of flesh and from the suffering of the victim); and pedophilia (sexual arousal of an adult to children). Other related behaviors discussed are pyromania (sexual pleasure from fire); kleptomania (sexual pleasure from theft); and transvestism (compulsion to dress in clothing of the opposite sex). 28 references