Abstract
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.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th Ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Dietz, P. E., Hazelwood, R. R., & Warren, J. (1990). The sexually sadistic criminal and his offenses. Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 18, 163-178.
Gratzer, T., & Bradford, J. M. W. (1995). Offender and offense characteristics of sexual sadists: A comparative study. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 40, 450-455.
Knight, R. A., Warren, J. I., Reboussin, R., & Soley, B. J. (1998). Predicting rapist type from crime-scene variables. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 25, 46-80.
Marshall, W. L., & Fernandez, Y. M. (2000). Phallometric testing with sexual offenders: Limits to its value. Clinical Psychology Review, 20, 807-822.
Marshall, W. L., & Kennedy, P. (in press). Sexual sadism in sexual offenders: An elusive diagnosis. Aggression and Violent Behavior: A Review Journal.
Myers, W. C., Burgess, A. W., Burgess, A. G., & Douglas, J. E. (1999). Serial murder and sexual homicide. In V. Van Hasselt & M. Hersen (Eds.), Handbook of psychological approaches with violent offenders (pp. 153-172). New York: Kluwer/Plenum.
Ressler, R. K., Burgess, A. W., & Douglas, J. E. (1988). Sexual homicide: Pattern and motives. New York: Free Press.
Ressler, R. K., Burgess, A. W., Douglas, J. E., Hartman, C. R., & D'Agostino, R. B. (1986). Sexual killers and their victims: Identifying patterns through crime scene analysis. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 1, 273-287.
Siegel, S. (1956). Nonparametric statistics for the behavioral sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Stekel, W. (1929). Sadism and masochism: The psychology of hatred and cruelty (L. Brink, Trans.). New York: Horace Liveright.
von Krafft-Ebing, R. (1886). Psychopathia sexualis. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis.
Warren, J. I., Hazelwood, R. R., & Dietz, P. E. (1996). The sexually sadistic killer. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 41, 970-974.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Marshall, W.L., Kennedy, P. & Yates, P. Issues Concerning the Reliability and Validity of the Diagnosis of Sexual Sadism Applied in Prison Settings. Sex Abuse 14, 301–311 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019917519457
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019917519457