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Advances in the Assessment of Sexual Deviance

  • Sexual Disorders (LE Marshall and WL Marshall, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This paper reviews recent research into four different approaches to the assessment of offense-related sexual deviance.

Recent Findings

Two of these approaches, structured rating scales and phallometry, have a sufficient basis in research for clinical use but have undergone significant refinements in recent years. One approach, the use of cognitive tasks to indirectly assess sexual deviance, is approaching the point where it has a sound research basis for clinical use though too many promising tasks have yet to make the transition from laboratory to clinical practice. This approach has however begun to map the earlier stages of sexual response including preconscious processes. The final approach, assessment through neuroimaging, is at the earliest stage of development with research findings having yet to reach sufficient stability for clinical application.

Summary

Existing assessment technologies, despite their limitations, allow professionals to assess offense-related sexual deviance. New approaches, currently being developed, potentially allow a better understanding of underlying processes and, when sufficiently mature, will be more therapeutically useful.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sand Ridge Research Unit, 301 Troy Dr – Bldg 14, Madison, WI, 53704, USA

    David Thornton, Gina Ambroziak, Rachel E. Kahn & James Mundt

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  1. David Thornton
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  2. Gina Ambroziak
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Correspondence to David Thornton.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Sexual Disorders

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Thornton, D., Ambroziak, G., Kahn, R.E. et al. Advances in the Assessment of Sexual Deviance. Curr Psychiatry Rep 20, 55 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-018-0918-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-018-0918-7

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