A. Nicholas Groth

Undetected Recidivism among Rapists and Child Molesters

Although recidivism among dangerous sexual offenders is generally reported to be low, clinical experience suggests otherwise. In order to assess the actual recidivism rate of offenders who commit sexual as saults, we administered to a sample of eighty-three convicted rapists and fifty-four convicted child molesters an anonymous questionnaire in which they were asked a series of questions pertaining to their his tory of sexual offenses. The results indicate that the majority of the offenders had been convicted more than once for a sexual assault. Furthermore, on average, they admitted to having committed two to five times as many sex crimes for which they were not apprehended. This study suggests that dangerous sex offenders usually commit their first sexual assault during adolescence, and that they persist in this criminal behavior, but that the offense has low visibility. For this reason recidivism, as judged by rearrests, is not a dependable measure of rehabilitation of the sexual offender.

Adult sexual orientation and attraction to underage persons.

A random sample of 175 males convicted of sexual assault against children was screened with reference to their adult sexual orientation and the sex of their victims. The sample divided fairly evenly into two groups based on whether they were sexually fixated exclusively on children or had regressed from peer relationships. Female children were victimized nearly twice as often as male children. All regressed offenders, whether their victims were male or female children, were heterosexual in their adult orientation. There were no examples of regression to child victims among peer-oriented, homosexual males. The possibility emerges that homosexuality and homosexual pedophilia may be mutually exclusive and that the adult heterosexual male constitutes a greater risk to the underage child than does the adult homosexual male.

Juvenile Sexual Offenses in the Histories of Adult Rapists and Child Molesters

A sample of 231 sexual offenders was studied with respect to the progression of their offenses from non-contact sexual crimes (such as exhibitionism and voyeurism) as juveniles, to the more serious sex assaults of rape and child molestation as adults. The results of this study reveal that a significant number of offenders manifest a history of sexually inappropriate behaviors beginning in early adolescence. It appears from the study that many offenders begin to act out sexually at an early age and if left untreated may escalate to more serious sexual assaults.

CHILD SEX INITIATION RINGS

The workings of child sex initiation rings are outlined in a study of 36 prepubescent children involved in six such rings. Organizational factors include the adult capitalizing on a legitimate role in the childrens lives and programming them to provide sexual services in exchange for psychological, social, monetary, and other rewards; operational factors include peer group pressures and secrecy. Symptoms noted in the children prior to disclosure, and affective and cognitive response by parents upon disclosure, are discussed.

Death during dangerous autoerotic practice.

Abstract A study of 70 reported deaths during dangerous autoerotic practice revealed that while 21 were accurately initially classified as accidental deaths. 19 were first misclassified as suicide, 7 as murder and 23 as undetermined cause. Five criteria for death during dangerous autoerotic practice includes evidence of: apparatus to alter physiological status coexisting with a self-rescue mechanism; solo sexual activity or intent; sexual fantasy aids; prior dangerous autoerotic practice; and no apparent suicidal intent. Findings suggest education regarding this type of death to determine more reliable statistics and further study regarding child and adolescent males as high risk for this practice and the relationship of this practice to gender and developmental sequence.

Clinical Aspects of Rape

In addition to the motivational factors underlying rape, there are a number of correlates to such behavior that need to be examined for a fuller understanding of the dynamics of the offender. What activates his assault? What determines his choice of victim? What is his subjective reaction to the sexual offense? In short, what are the bio-psycho-social components of his assaultive sexual behavior?

Patterns of Rape

The focus of this chapter is on major patterns of rape and the identification of some of their unique or distinguishing characteristics. In most cases, these characteristics are based on a systematic study of 170 men who were convicted of sexually assaulting adults and 178 men who were convicted of sexually assaulting a child and who comprise a random subsample of all the offenders we have worked with to date.

Psychodynamics of Rape

One of the most basic observations one can make regarding men who rape is that not all such offenders are alike. They do not do the very same thing in the very same way or for the very same reasons. In some cases, similar acts occur for different reasons, and in other cases, different acts serve similar purposes. From our clinical experience with convicted offenders and with victims of reported sexual assault, we find that in all cases of forcible rape, three components are present: power, anger, and sexuality. The hierarchy and interrelationships among these three factors, together with the relative intensity with which each is experienced and the variety of ways in which each is expressed, vary from one offender to another. Nevertheless, there seems to be sufficient clustering within the broad spectrum of sexual assault so that distinguishable patterns of rape can be differentiated based on the descriptive characteristics of the assault and the dynamic characteristics of the offender.

Guidelines for Assessment and Treatment

What can be done to prevent an identified offender from repeating his sexual assaults? Incarceration is, in and of itself, insufficient to alter those personality defects that have led to his committing such an offense. Therefore, in addition to security safeguards, we must also turn to the medical and behavioral sciences for help in remedying those psychological handicaps in the offender that lead him, under certain stressful situations, to jeopardize the safety of others. Any efforts at rehabilitation must take into consideration four basic issues: (1) the client—whom are you going to treat? (2) the setting—where are you going to treat him? (3) the modality—how are you going to treat him? and (4) the outcome—how are you going to measure response to treatment and determine when the offender is rehabilitated?

Rape: Myths and Realities

Rape is a topic that abounds with myths and misconceptions. It is a complicated, emotionally charged, and highly misunderstood subject. Fortunately, as a direct result of the reemergence of the women’s movement, increasing attention is being given to this major social problem. National consciousness has been raised, especially in regard to the victim of this offense. The public media—television, radio, motion pictures, books, newspapers, and magazines—continue to focus interest on this important subject. Rape crisis centers function throughout the country. Laws have been changed and rewritten, and special rape-investigation training programs have been established for law enforcement officers to deal more effectively and efficiently with this serious offense.