This article will present data gathered by the authors through structured clinical interviews of 561 paraphiliacs regarding demographic characteristics, frequency and variety of deviant sexual acts, and number and characteristics of victims. Results show that nonincarcerated sex offenders (1) are well educated and socioeconomically diverse; (2) report an average number of crimes and victims that is substantially higher than that represented in the current literature; and (3) sexually molest young boys with an incidence that is five times greater than the molestation of young girls. The relevance of these findings is discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Abel, G. G. (1985). A clinical evaluation of possible sex offenders. The incest offender, the victim, the family: New treatment approaches.White Plains, NY: Mental Health Association of Westchester County.
2.
Abel, G. G. , Barlow, D. H., Blanchard, E. B., & Guild, D. (1977). The components of rapists' sexual arousal.Archives of General Psychiatry, 34, 895-903.
3.
Abel, G. G. , Becker, J. V., Blanchard, E., & Flanagan, B. (1981). The behavioral assessment of rapists. In J. R. Hays, T. K. Roberts, & K. Solway (Eds.), Violence and the violent individual.Jamaica, NY: Spectrum.
4.
Abel, G. G. , Becker, J. V., Murphy, W. D., & Flanagan, B. (1981). Identifying dangerous child molesters. In R. Stuart (Ed.), Violent behavior social learning approaches to prediction, management, and treatment.New York: Brunner/Mazel.
5.
Abel, G. F. , Blanchard, E. B., Barlow, D. H., & Mavissakalian, M. (1975). Identifying specific erotic cues in sexual deviation by audio-taped description.Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis, 8, 247-260.
6.
Abel, G. G. , Blanchard, E. B., & Becker, J. V. (1976). Psychological treatment for rapists. In S. Brodsky & M. Walker (Eds.), Sexual assault.Lexington, MA: Lexington.
7.
Abel, G. G. , Blanchard, E. B., & Becker, J. V. (1977). An integrated treatment program for rapists. In R. Rada (Ed.), Clinical aspects of the rapists.New York: Grune & Stratton.
8.
Abel, G. G. , Blanchard, D. H., Becker, J. V., & Djenderedjian, A. (1978). Differentiating sexual aggressives with penile measures.Criminal Justice and Behavior, 5, 315-332.
9.
Abel, G. G. , Mittelman, M. S., & Becker, J. V. (1985). Sexual offenders: Results of assessment and recommendations for treatment. In M. H. Ben-Aron, S. J. Hucker, & C. D. Webster (Eds.), Clinical criminology: Current concepts.Toronto: M & M Graphics.
10.
Abel, G. G. , & Rouleau, J. L. (1986). Sexual disorders. In G. Winokur & P. Clayton (Eds.), Medical basis of psychiatry.New York: W. B. Saunders.
11.
Abel, G. G. , Rouleau, J. L., & Cunningham-Rathner, J. (1986). Sexually aggressive behavior. In W. Curran, A. L. McGarry, & S. A. Shah (Eds.), Modern legal psychiatry and psychology.Philadelphia: F. A. Davis.
12.
Berlin, F. , & Meinecke, C. (1981). Treatment of sex offenders with antiandrogenic medication: Conceptualization, a review of treatment modalities.American Journal of Psychiatry, 138, 601-607.
13.
Bureau of Justice Statistics. (1980a). Criminal victimization in the United States, 1973-1978 trends (National Crime Survey Report NCS-N-13, NCJ-66716). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
14.
Bureau of Justice Statistics. (1980b). Criminal victimization in the United States, 1978 (National Crime Survey Report NCS-N-17, NCJ-66480). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
15.
Doleschal, E. , & Wilkins, L. (1972). Criminal statistics.Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Mental Health.
16.
Federal Register. (1975, December 4). Protection of identity: Research subjects and patients (Vol. 40, pp. 56692-56693). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
17.
Freund, K. (1963). A laboratory method for diagnosing predominance of homo and hetero erotic interest in the male.Behaviour Research & Therapy, 1, 85-93.
18.
Frisbie, L. V. , & Dondis, E. H. (1965). Recidivism among treated sex offenders (Research Monograph No. 5). Sacramento, CA: Department of Mental Health, Bureau of Research and Statistics.
19.
Gebhard, P. H. , Gagnon, J. H., Pomeroy, W. B., & Christenson, C. V. (1965). Sex offenders.New York: Harper & Row.
20.
Gibbs, J. P. (1966). Conceptions of deviant behavior: The old and the new.Pacific Sociological Review, 9, 9-14.
21.
Gibbs, J. P. (1972). Issues in defining deviant behavior. In R. A. Scott & J. O. Douglas (Eds.), Theoretical perspectives on deviance.New York: Basic Books.
22.
Huizinga, D. , & Elliott, D. S. (1984). Self-reported measures of delinquency and crime: Methodological issues and comparative findings.Boulder, CO: Behavioral Research Institute.
23.
Kitsuse, J. I. (1962). Societal reaction to deviant behavior: Problems of theory and method.Social Problems, 9, 247-256.
24.
Laws, D. R. , & Holman, M. L. (1978). Sexual response faking by pedophiles.Criminal Justice and Behavior, 5, 343-356.
25.
Nye, F. I. (1958). Family relationships and delinquent behavior.New York: John Wiley.
26.
Porterfield, A. (1946). Youth in trouble.Fort Worth, TX: Leo Potisham Foundation.
27.
Sellin, T. , & Wolfgang, M. (1964). The measurement of delinquency.New York: John Wiley.
28.
Short, J. F., Jr. , & Nye, F. I. (1957). Reported behavior as a criterion of deviant behavior.Social Problems, 5, 207-213.
29.
Skogan, W. G. (1984). Reporting crimes to the police: The status of world research.Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 21, 113-138.
30.
Wallerstein, J. S. , & Wyle, C. J. (1947). Our law abiding law-breakers.Probation, 25, 107-112.
