Sexual Sadism Among Sex Offenders in Switzerland.

The Sexual Sadism Scale (SeSaS) was developed to assist in the diagnosis of sexual sadism, and it revealed adequate psychometric properties in prior research. This study cross validated the SeSaS in Switzerland using a sample of 179 male sex offenders. Specifically, the SeSaS conformed to a Mokken model of double monotonicity (scalability coefficient [H] = .46, coefficient of reproducibility [CR] = .89), indicating that it measures a unidimensional construct of sexual sadism with hierarchically ordered items. The reliability of the scale was acceptable to high (ρ = .80, λ2 = .75, κ = .88). In addition, the SeSaS was strongly associated with sexual sadism diagnoses based on mental health manuals (rpb = .60, odds ratio [OR] = 13.02, area under the curve [AUC] = 1) but not with recidivism. The results suggest that the use of the SeSaS may improve the validity and reliability of sexual sadism diagnoses, therefore playing a role in the assessment and management of sex offenders.

Sexual homicide in the USA committed by juveniles and adults, 1976-2007: Age of arrest and incidence trends over 32 years.

BACKGROUND: Reliable epidemiological data on sexual homicide are sparse, especially on trends in its incidence over time and age at arrest. AIMS: Our main aims were to study age at arrest and incidence trends for sexual homicide in the USA over about three decades (1976-2007). METHODS: We conducted longitudinal analyses of data from the largest USA homicide database available for the years 1976-2007. RESULTS: The mean age at arrest for a sexual homicide was 26.3 years (range 7-76; modal 21 years). Three quarters of these offenders were young adults aged 18-35. Age at probable first arrest for a sexual homicide rose significantly from a mean of 25 to a mean of 29 years over the study period. The last decade of the three studied accounted for just one quarter of the homicides as charged in the whole period, but the proportion of sexual homicides specifically fell with each decade, so that the first period accounted for 56% of those in the whole period, the second for 33% and the final decade for just 11%. This was reflected in a reduction in the proportion of all homicides that were sexual, from 1.4% in the first decade to 0.8% in the second and 0.4% in the third, declining by a factor of five for adults and seven for juveniles. CONCLUSIONS: Use of official national criminal statistics has limitations in studying the epidemiology of any particular behaviour. Nonetheless, our findings of falling sexual homicide rates and of changes in at least one important demographic of these killers indicate a need for a considered reappraisal of such crimes. Establishment of accurate epidemiology and a study of associated factors may assist in the improvement of investigative and preventive strategies.

Narcissism and sadomasochistic relationships.

People with narcissistic vulnerabilities often relate to others sadomasochistically-either exerting power, or submitting to others, or both-in order to manage their vulnerabilities and protect themselves from feelings of abandonment. Sadomasochistic experience often involves concrete thinking and limited playfulness or ability to use metaphor. In therapy, these difficulties are often actualized in the patient-therapist relationship so that usual verbal interpretations may be of limited value, and the therapist needs to work to maintain a mutually respectful relationship even as the patient tries to draw him/her into sadomasochistic interactions. Because these difficulties have roots in early childhood and are repeatedly reinforced by later experience, long-term treatment that provides ongoing opportunities for new experience and understanding will be most helpful. These ideas are illustrated with two case examples.

A Systematic Scoping Review of the Prevalence, Etiological, Psychological, and Interpersonal Factors Associated with BDSM.

BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, and sadomasochism) encompasses a diverse set of sexual interests. Research interests in BDSM have been historically underpinned by examining potential mental health issues, unhealthy fixations on specific sexual behaviors, and/or the presence of childhood trauma, as is predicted by psychopathological and psychoanalytic models. The objective of this scoping review was to provide an overview of the current landscape of BDSM research, including incidence rates, evidence for psychopathological, psychoanalytical, biological, and social etiological factors, demographics of BDSM practitioners, and the psychological correlates of those with BDSM interests. After the literature search and screening process, 60 articles were included. BDSM related fantasies were found to be common (40-70%) in both males and females, while about 20% reported engaging in BDSM. Results show little support for psychopathologic or psychoanalytic models. In the selected samples studied, BDSM practitioners appear to be white, well educated, young, and do not show higher rates of mental health or relationship problems. Research supports BDSM being used as a broadening of sexual interests and behaviors instead of a fixation on a specific interest. Future empirical research should focus on non-pathological models of BDSM, discrimination of BDSM practitioners, interpersonal relationships, and biological factors.

[Experiences of sexual practices associated with BDSM: the limits contemplated within the bounds of what is Healthy, Safe and Consensual]. / Vivencias de las prácticas sexuales asociadas al BDSM: los límites contemplados dentro de lo Sano, Seguro y Consensuado.

BDSM sexual practices related to sadomasochism, domination and submission, represent a vast range of possibilities in terms of paraphernalia, associated emotions, uses and applications that are as diverse as the human beings who practice it. Taking this into account, we conducted a study to understand the practices related to BDSM, under the perspective of its own practitioners. For this, a qualitative methodology was used, with an emergent and projected type of design. We covered 8 in-depth interviews on men and women from Venezuela and the data was analyzed through the constant comparison method in order to generate grounded theory, this paper comes up as part of a larger study. Among the most outstanding findings were the importance of limits, some as irrefutable an others that are meant to break, and the importance of the physical and mental health conditions in the practice.

Las prácticas sexuales BDSM relacionadas con el sadomasoquismo, la dominación y la sumisión, representan un abanico vasto de posibilidades en cuanto a parafernalia, emociones asociadas y usos tan diversos como los seres humanos que lo practican. Debido a esto, realizamos un estudio para entender las prácticas sexuales relacionadas al BDSM, bajo la mirada de sus propios practicantes. Para ello se empleó una metodología cualitativa con un tipo de diseño emergente y proyectado. Se realizaron 8 entrevistas a profundidad a hombres y mujeres en Venezuela, se analizaron los datos a través del método de comparación constante con el fin de generar teoría fundamentada. Este artículo surge como parte de los resultados de un estudio mayor. Entre los hallazgos más resaltantes se encontró la importancia a los límites, algunos como irrefutables y otros que se intentan traspasar y lo primordial de la práctica en condiciones de salud física y mental.

Sadism among sexual homicide offenders: Validation of the Sexual Sadism Scale.

Sexual sadism is assumed to be a crucial factor in sexual homicide. Prevalence estimates vary greatly due to differences in the definition of sexual sadism. A nationwide sample of 350 male perpetrators who had committed a sexual homicide offense against a female 14 years of age or above in England or Wales was assessed based on archival records. Sexual sadism was assessed using the Sexual Sadism Scale (SeSaS). Item response theory (IRT) analyses were conducted focusing on the 2-parameter logistic model. The single-factor structure of the SeSaS Part 1 was tested using confirmatory factor analysis. Estimates of both internal consistency and interrater agreement were satisfactory to substantial. IRT analysis showed that the Part 1 items captured moderate to severe levels of the latent construct (i.e., theta levels >0). Based on the Posterior Probability of Diagnosis index, the prevalence of the disorder was estimated at 37% in the sample. The substantial correlation between the SeSaS Part 1 total score and original clinical diagnoses of sadism confirms the criterion validity of the scale. Exertion of control and infliction of torture were among the more informative items. In sum, the results support the usefulness of the SeSaS instrument for assessing forensically relevant forms of sadism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

The dark side of internet: Preliminary evidence for the associations of dark personality traits with specific online activities and problematic internet use.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Research has shown that personality traits play an important role in problematic internet use (PIU). However, the relationship between dark personality traits (i.e., Machiavellianism, psychopathy, narcissism, sadism, and spitefulness) and PIU has yet to be investigated. Consequently, the objectives of this study were to investigate the relationships of dark traits with specific online activities (i.e., social media, gaming, gambling, shopping, and sex) and PIU. METHODS: A total of 772 university students completed a self-report survey, including the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen Scale, Short Sadistic Impulse Scale, Spitefulness Scale, and an adapted version of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale. RESULTS: Hierarchical regression analysis and a multiple mediation model indicated that being male was positively associated with higher online gaming, online sex, and online gambling, and negatively associated with social media and online shopping. Narcissism was related to higher social media use; Machiavellianism was related to higher online gaming, online sex, and online gambling; sadism was related to online sex; and spitefulness was associated with online sex, online gambling, and online shopping. Finally, Machiavellianism and spitefulness were directly and indirectly associated with PIU via online gambling, online gaming, and online shopping, and narcissism was indirectly associated with PIU through social media use. DISCUSSION: Findings of this preliminary study show that individuals high in dark personality traits may be more vulnerable in developing problematic online use and that further research is warranted to examine the associations of dark personality traits with specific types of problematic online activities.

On sexual violence.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Sexual violence is a multidimensional concept that is not completely understood even within forensic psychiatry. Violent sexual behaviour such as sexually sadistic homicides would be included within the definition, but it is commonly defined more broadly as any deviant sexual behaviour. In this review, the broadest definition of sexual violence is used in order to facilitate the most comprehensive review of scientific articles in the field. RECENT FINDINGS: This review covers sexual violence from the extreme of sexually motivated homicides to sexual violence in Internet crimes. The review can be divided into four subject areas. The first relates to extreme sexual violence such as sexually motivated homicide, the second area refers to Internet sexual offending, the third relates to studies on the characteristics of the perpetrators of sexual offending behaviour and the fourth relates to risk evaluation and the prevalence of sexual violence. SUMMARY: Significant advances have been made in relation to sexual sadism. Deviant sexual behaviour using the Internet is being studied. Significant research advances continue in understanding clinical characteristics of various types of sexual offenders. Other important areas of research relate to meta-analytical studies of sexual offenders.

Prevalence and characteristics of sadistic personality disorder in an outpatient veterans population.

This study is designed to examine the prevalence, demographics, and the Axis I and Axis II diagnoses of sadistic personality disorder (SPD) in a previously unexamined population (outpatient veterans). It also represents the first attempt to examine the family history of those with SPD. Standardized methods were used to select 144 nonpsychotic subjects from a veterans psychiatric outpatient clinic. The population was then divided into three groups: those with SPD, those without SPD but with antisocial personality disorder or traits, and those with no Axis II disorders. A fourth group consisted of 28 control veterans without psychopathology. Subjects with SPD tended to be younger and to have lower scores on the Global Assessment Scale than did clinical control subjects without personality disorders; they also had significantly more bipolar and panic disorder than were found in the antisocial traits group. High levels of depression and alcohol dependence were also present. SPD traits correlated with DSM-III-R dramatic cluster, compulsive, passive-aggressive, and self-defeating personality disorders. The SPD group could be distinguished from other groups on the basis of family history. It was concluded that sadistic personality traits and disorders are prevalent (8.1%), associated with reduced functioning, and may have specific associations with certain Axis I and Axis II disorders. It is possible that they have a distinct familial pattern.

Childhood antisocial behaviors as predictors of psychotic symptoms and DSM-III-R borderline criteria among inpatients with borderline personality disorder.

Structured clinical interviews of 107 female inpatients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) were used to determine whether antisocial personality disorder (APD) diagnostic criteria evident prior to age 15 could be used to predict current Axis I and Axis II psychopathology. Diagnostic information was gathered using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders (SCID-II) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R-Patient Version (SCID-P). Childhood APD criteria were subjected to principal-components analysis, and three factors--rule-breaking, assault, and sadism--emerged. The severity of the childhood APD criteria was related to psychotic symptoms, as well as to the unstable relationships and labile affect BPD criteria and the current overall severity of BPD criteria. Sadism predicted psychotic symptoms and BPD severity, while rule-breaking predicted unstable relationships and BPD severity. Childhood APD severity also had a larger effect on BPD severity than on psychotic symptoms. Possible explanations for these findings are explored and discussed.

Sadism and psychopathy in violent and sexually violent offenders.

A nonrandom sample (N = 41) of inmates from a maximum security prison were classified as either psychopathic or nonpsychopathic (using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R)) and violent or sexually violent. Sadism was measured using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II) Scale 6B, the Personality Disorder Examination (PDE) items for sadistic personality disorder, and the sexual sadism criteria of DSM-IV. Psychopaths were found to be significantly more sadistic than nonpsychopaths (MCMI-II and PDE). Overall power was relatively high. Sadism did not differentiate the violent and sexually violent groups. A diagnosis of sexual sadism was too infrequent (n = 3) for meaningful statistical analysis. The trait measures of sadism and psychopathy measures (PCL-R, Factor 1 and Factor 2) significantly and positively correlated. Results provide further empirical validity for the theoretically proposed and clinically observed relationship between sadistic traits and psychopathic personality.

Diagnosing sexual sadism in sexual offenders: reliability across diagnosticians.

On the basis of detailed accounts of offences committed by 12 dangerous sexual offenders and of descriptions of their life histories, their responses to various tests, self-reports of offenders' sexual interests and activities, and results of phallometric evaluations, 15 expert forensic psychiatrists diagnosed whether each offender met the criteria for sexual sadism. The psychiatrists also indicated their confidence in the diagnoses they made and rated the relevance to the diagnosis of sexual sadism for various features of the offence and the offender. Results revealed unsatisfactory levels of diagnostic agreement among the psychiatrists. On the other hand, they agreed quite well on the importance for the diagnosis of several of the offence features described. Suggestions are offered for clinical practice.

Vivencias de las prácticas sexuales asociadas al BDSM: los límites contemplados dentro de lo Sano, Seguro y Consensuado / Experiences of sexual practices associated with BDSM: the limits contemplated within the bounds of what is Healthy, Safe and Consensual

Resumen Las prácticas sexuales BDSM relacionadas con el sadomasoquismo, la dominación y la sumisión, representan un abanico vasto de posibilidades en cuanto a parafernalia, emociones asociadas y usos tan diversos como los seres humanos que lo practican. Debido a esto, realizamos un estudio para entender las prácticas sexuales relacionadas al BDSM, bajo la mirada de sus propios practicantes. Para ello se empleó una metodología cualitativa con un tipo de diseño emergente y proyectado. Se realizaron 8 entrevistas a profundidad a hombres y mujeres en Venezuela, se analizaron los datos a través del método de comparación constante con el fin de generar teoría fundamentada. Este artículo surge como parte de los resultados de un estudio mayor. Entre los hallazgos más resaltantes se encontró la importancia a los límites, algunos como irrefutables y otros que se intentan traspasar y lo primordial de la práctica en condiciones de salud física y mental.

Abstract BDSM sexual practices related to sadomasochism, domination and submission, represent a vast range of possibilities in terms of paraphernalia, associated emotions, uses and applications that are as diverse as the human beings who practice it. Taking this into account, we conducted a study to understand the practices related to BDSM, under the perspective of its own practitioners. For this, a qualitative methodology was used, with an emergent and projected type of design. We covered 8 in-depth interviews on men and women from Venezuela and the data was analyzed through the constant comparison method in order to generate grounded theory, this paper comes up as part of a larger study. Among the most outstanding findings were the importance of limits, some as irrefutable an others that are meant to break, and the importance of the physical and mental health conditions in the practice.

Sexual sadism in sexual offenders and sexually motivated homicide.

This article gives a clinically oriented overview of forensically relevant forms of sexual sadism disorder and its specific relationship to sexual homicide. In sexual homicide perpetrators, peculiar patterns of sexual sadism may be a motivational pathway to kill. Sexual sadism increases the risk for reoffending in sexual offenders. Through psychotherapy and pharmacological interventions, treatment of sadistic sex offenders has to consider special characteristics that may be different from those of nonsadistic sex offenders. Many of these offenders share a combination of sexual sadistic motives and an intact self-regulation, sometimes combined with a high level of sexual preoccupation.

Sexual sadism: a portrait of evil.

Sexual sadism has been defined ambiguously in the DSM to include both preoccupation with sadistic sexual fantasies and the acting out of such fantasies (with resultant harm or death to the victims). Ideally, the term should be used only for persons in whom such fantasies are acted out in actual behavior. Almost all such persons will be men. There is an overlap between the psychiatric diagnosis of sexual sadism (as behavior) and the concept of evil as the word is used in everyday parlance. The word evil is evoked generally when one comes to learn of (or witness) violent actions of such a nature as to horrify, shock, and disgust us. Evil corresponds, that is, to an emotional reaction when confronted with acts of a particularly horrifying and repugnant type. Violent sexual crimes involving torture of the victim are particularly likely to elicit this response. A common examplar of sexual sadism is the serial killer who experiences orgasm when murdering his victim. Sadistic sexual fantasies are noted in certain adolescents. In some of these the fantasies serves rehearsal for future sadistic sexual acts, especially in adolescents with callous-unemotional personality (who often emerge in adult life as psychopaths). Whereas therapy would usually fail even if such adolescents were brought to treatment early, there are others who experience sadistic sexual fantasies, but for whom these fantasies are ego-alien and disturbing. Patients of the latter type may be amenable to dynamic psychotherapy.

The diagnostic reliability of sexual sadism.

Previous studies have reported low diagnostic agreement on the paraphilias, especially sexual sadism. In the present study, 34 evaluators throughout the United States reviewed summaries of 12 committed sex offenders. The evaluators agreed more than 90% of the time on whether offenders met criteria for any paraphilia in general and sexual sadism in particular. The authors attribute the low reliability reported in previous studies to different agreement indices, the amount and quality of information available to evaluators, and the prevalence of the respective paraphilic diagnoses in their samples.

Severe sexual sadism--an underdiagnosed disorder? Evidence from a sample of forensic inpatients.

Severe sexual sadism is a disorder of sexual preference that focuses on humiliation and subjugation of the victim, sometimes causing grievous injury or death. Sexual sadists pose a particular risk. However, the diagnosis as such is unreliable and prevalence estimates vary. In a sample of male high-security forensic inpatients who had committed sexual offenses, we found two-thirds of sexual sadists had not been identified as such prior to commitment. Possible reasons for missing the diagnosis are many fold. Present data support the notion that unrecognized sexual sadists more closely resembled non-sadistic sex offenders than accurately diagnosed sadists. In particular, initially unrecognized sexual sadists had less severe previous convictions, less vocational training, and experienced a less supportive upbringing than their correctly identified sadistic counterparts. The latter, in contrast, more often reached media coverage through their offense(s). We conclude that severe sexual sadism is likely an underdiagnosed, yet forensically highly relevant disorder.

[Sexual offending in schizophrenia - a comparative trial]. / Sexualdelinquenz bei Schizophrenie - eine Vergleichsstudie.

Studies suggest a complex relationship between schizophrenia and sexually offensive behaviour. The mental disorder itself, antisocial personality traits, drug abuse and adverse childhood experiences are suggested to have an impact on sexual offending in mentally disordered offenders. Similarities in psychosexual variables for schizophrenic and sexual offenders in general are found. This study aimed to preserve first findings of sex offence features and behaviours exhibited by psychotic men in Germany. Furthermore a typology of the schizophrenic offenders was developed. Records of 64-male restricted hospital order in-patients (32 patients with and 32 patients without an ICD-10 psychotic disorder) examined at the Institute for Forensic Psychiatry or resident in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the prisons in Berlin from 1980 - 2006 with an index conviction for a contact sex offence against a woman provided the material for research. A comparative trial design was used to differentiate the psychotic and non psychotic offender group. A check list which based on the method of a content analysis containing items related to the offender and the index offence was developed and applied to the records of men. A similar extent of social isolation, psychosexual variables and adverse childhood experiences are found for schizophrenic and non schizophrenic offenders. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia as well as antisocial traits had a great impact on schizophrenic sexual offending. Solely the occurrence of bizarre behaviour was influenced by positive symptoms. Different offence characteristics appeared in the four outlined schizophrenic subgroups such as bizarre behaviour of the psychotic, assaultive behaviour of the dissocial, chaotic behaviour of the substance abusive and negative childhood experiences of the sadistic schizophrenic offenders. The partly controversial findings underline the need for further studies to understand sexual offending in the heterogeneous group of schizophrenic men.

Age as a differential characteristic of rapists, pedophiles, and sexual sadists.

In this study, we investigated the role of age in three categories of 168 sex offenders, including 53 rapists, 62 pedophiles, and 53 sadists. On the basis of the match between requisites of completing each type of sexual offense, we hypothesized that rapists would be less represented in the older age group, whereas pedophilic and sexually sadistic offenders would show a more muted decline with age. This hypothesis was supported by the data, clearly a showing smaller number of rapists in the over 40 group relative to the number of pedophiles and sadists (p = 0.0009.) Further examination of the files eliminated the alternate explanation ascribing this pattern to lack of opportunity in older rapists because of incarceration. These results suggest that age over 40 may mitigate incidence of recidivism in rapists, but not in pedophiles or sexual sadists. Approximately one third of the sexual sadists had committed either first- or second-degree murder, whereas none of the nonsadistic rapists or pedophiles had these crimes on their records. The data further justify categorization of sex offenders into nonsadistic rapist, sadistic rapist, and pedophilic offenders in future research to enhance precision in delineating demographic characteristics and putative causal explanations for sexual offending.

Issues concerning the reliability and validity of the diagnosis of sexual sadism applied in prison settings.

This study examined limited aspects of the diagnoses of sexual sadism among incarcerated sexual offenders. The diagnoses examined in this study were made by experienced forensic psychiatrists following DSM-III-R or DSM-IV criteria. Archival data was extracted on 51 sexual offenders for whom a psychiatric evaluation had been requested. Analyses of offense history and features, offender self-reports, and phallometric data, indicated few differences between those offenders diagnosed as sadists and those not so diagnosed. In fact, where there were differences, the data indicated that the nonsadists were the most deviant. The results are discussed in terms of their meaning for both forensic practice in prisons and the value of the diagnosis of sexual sadism.