Abstract
A descriptive survey was conducted on ten juvenile female sexual offenders in a residential treatment program. Similarities to juvenile male perpetrators were found in both an etiological link to prior victimization, as well as pattern of perpetration. These youth typically were molested by a number of individuals beginning at a young age. Their own sexual victimizations were notable for having been molested by not only a male perpetrator (all of the youth), but also a female (six of the ten). Eight of the females reported having been sexually aroused to one of their own victimizations, with this experience of arousal rated as particularly psychologically distressful when the perpetrator was of the same gender. Their patterns of perpetration began approximately five years following their first sexual victimization experience. Like their male counterparts, they tended to be repeat offenders, molested children of both sexes, and fantasized about such behavior prior to the first act of perpetration. Furthermore, these youth generally acted alone in the commission of their acts of perpetration, and engaged in sexual behaviors which were relatively invasive. Directions for future research are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Becker, J. V., & Hunter, J. A. (1993). Aggressive sex offenders.Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 20 477–487.
Becker, J. V., Hunter, J. A., Stein, R., & Kaplan, M. (1989). Factors associated with erection in adolescent sex offenders.Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, xx 353–362.
Becker, J., & Kaplan, M. (1988). The assessment of adolescent sexual offenders. In R. J. Prinz (Ed.),Advances in behavioral assessment of children and families, Vol. 4 (pp. 97–118). Connecticut: JAI Press.
Davis, G. E. & Leitenberg, H. (1987). Adolescent sex offenders.Psychological Bulletin, 101 417–427.
Fehrenbach, P. A. & Monastersky, C. (1988). Characteristics of female adolescent sexual offenders.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 58 148–151.
Fehrenbach, P. A., Smith, W., Monastersky, C., & Deisher, R. W. (1986). Adolescent sexual offenders: Offender and offense characteristics.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 56 225–233.
Hunter, J. A. (1991). A comparison of the psychosocial maladjustment of adult males and females sexually molested as children.Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 6 205–215.
Hunter, J. A., Goodwin, D. W., & Becker, J. V. (in press). The relationship between phallometrically measured deviant sexual arousal and clinical characteristics in juvenile sexual offenders.Behaviour Research and Therapy.
Hunter, M. (1990).Abused boys: The neglected victims of sexual abuse. New York: Ballantine Books.
Johnson, R. & Shrier, D. (1985). Sexual victimization of boys: Experience at an adolescent medicine clinic.Journal of Adolescent Health Care, 6 372–376.
Kline, D. F. (1987).Long term impact of child maltreatment on the victims as reflected in further contact with the Utah Juvenile Court and the Utah Department of Adult Corrections. Logan, UT: Utah State University.
Knopp, F. H., & Lackey, L. D. (1987).Female sexual abusers: A summary of data from 44 treatment providers. New York, N.Y.: The Safer Society Press.
Mathews, R. (1987, May).Female sexual offenders. Workshop presented to the Third National Adolescent Perpetration Network Meeting, Keystone, Colorado.
Porter, E. (1986).Treating the young male victims of sexual assault: Issues and intervention strategies. New York, N.Y.: The Safer Society Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hunter, J.A., Lexier, L.J., Goodwin, D.W. et al. Psychosexual, attitudinal, and developmental characteristics of juvenile female sexual perpetrators in a residential treatment setting. J Child Fam Stud 2, 317–326 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321228
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321228