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Multiple paraphilic diagnoses among sex offenders
G G Abel1, J V Becker, J Cunningham-Rathner
1Department of Psychiatry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
The Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Most individuals with paraphilias engage in multiple deviant sexual behaviors, challenging prior psychiatric assumptions. This study surveyed 561 paraphiliacs, revealing extensive experience across various paraphilic types.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
Background:
- Existing psychiatric literature posits that individuals with paraphilias typically exhibit only a single type of deviant sexual behavior.
- This assumption has guided diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches for paraphilic disorders.
- However, the empirical basis for this narrow view requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diversity of deviant sexual behaviors exhibited by nonincarcerated individuals diagnosed with paraphilias.
- To challenge the prevailing notion that paraphiliacs engage in only one specific type of deviant sexual behavior.
- To inform clinical understanding and treatment strategies for paraphilic disorders.
Main Methods:
- A confidential self-report survey was administered to 561 nonincarcerated individuals with paraphilias.
- Data collection focused on the range and types of deviant sexual behaviors experienced by participants.
- Statistical analysis was employed to quantify the diversity of behaviors within the sample.
Main Results:
- Contrary to prior assumptions, the majority of paraphiliacs reported engaging in a wide spectrum of deviant sexual behaviors, with some experiencing up to ten distinct types.
- This behavioral diversity was observed irrespective of the victim's gender, age, or familial relationship to the perpetrator.
- Findings indicate a significant overlap and multiplicity in paraphilic behavior patterns.
Conclusions:
- The study's findings necessitate a revision of the understanding of paraphilias, moving beyond single-behavior typologies.
- The observed diversity in sexual behaviors has critical implications for the assessment and therapeutic interventions for individuals with paraphilias.
- Future research should explore the underlying factors contributing to this behavioral multiplicity and its impact on treatment efficacy.