NCJ Number
56268
Date Published
1978
Length
192 pages
Annotation
THE HISTORIES, CIRCUMSTANCES, AND MOTIVES OF 12 SERIOUS SEX OFFENDERS UNDERGOING INTENSIVE GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY AT A PSYCHIATRIC CENTER IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
THE BOOK OPENS WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE RECRUITMENT, COMPOSITION, AND TREATMENT OF THE STUDY GROUP. IN CASE STUDY FORMAT, ANALYSES ARE PRESENTED OF ADVERSITIES IN THE SUBJECTS' EARLY LIVES, EVIDENCE OF THEIR IMPAIRED MASCULINITY, THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE RAPES FOR WHICH THE SUBJECTS WERE CURRENTLY IMPRISONED, AND THE EVENTS OF THE WEEKS OR MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE RAPES. INTERPRETATIONS OF THE CASE STUDY MATERIAL ARE PRESENTED. THE CHARACTERISTICS AND TREATMENT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SEX OFFENDERS ARE DISCUSSED, WITH REFERENCE TO STUDIES AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS IN CANADA, THE UNITED STATES, AND ELSEWHERE. THE CASE STUDIES LEND CREDENCE TO THE VIEW THAT SOME RAPISTS SUFFER FROM INFERIORITY COMPLEXES CENTERED ON INSECURITY ABOUT MASCULINITY. THE ORIGINS OF THE COMPLEXES ARE TRACEABLE TO INAPPROPRIATE UPBRINGING, HINDRANCES TO SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDHOOD (ESPECIALLY IN THE SPHERE OF SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS), AND UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS LATER IN LIFE THAT AGGRAVATE THE TENDENCY TO VIEW WOMEN IRRATIONALLY AND UNREALISTICALLY. THIS PERSPECTIVE PROVIDES A BALANCE TO THE NOTION THAT ALL RAPISTS ARE OVERSEXED, UNINHIBITED HEDONISTS, AND DIRECTS ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE AGGRESSIVE SEX ACT ITSELF TO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MEANING OF THE USE OF SEXUAL FORCE AGAINST WOMEN. THE STUDY SUBJECTS REPRESENT A RELATIVELY RARE TYPE OF SEX OFFENDER, ONE THAT MIGHT BE DESCRIBED AS 'COMPENSATORY AGGRESSIVE.' THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCH OFFENDERS IS OUT OF PROPORTION WITH THEIR NUMBERS, BECAUSE THEIR CRIMES ARE SERIOUS AND PERSISTENT ENOUGH TO REQUIRE DRASTIC INTERVENTION, AND BECAUSE THEIR PROBLEMS ARE POTENTIALLY TREATABLE BY PSYCHOTHERAPY. SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF SERIOUS SEX OFFENDERS APPEARS TO REQUIRE A MAXIMUM SENTENCE (IN PROPORTION TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE) BEYOND WHICH THE OFFENDER CANNOT BE DETAINED; A FLEXIBLE POLICY FOR EARLY RELEASE UNDER ADEQUATE SUPERVISION AND TREATMENT; AND A TREATMENT SETTING SEPARATE FROM THE ORDINARY PRISON, WITH TREATMENT STAFF IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE REGIME AND OF CASE SELECTION. INDEXES AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)