Citation

da Silva T, Woodhams J, Harkins L. Arch. Sex. Behav. 2018; 47(2): 443-456.

Affiliation

Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, ON, L1H 7K4, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10508-017-1011-8

PMID

28785918

Abstract

There is little empirical research examining the reasons behind multiple perpetrator sexual offending. A limited number of studies provide reasons for offending offered by perpetrators of this type of sexual violence, but only one published study exists where these perpetrators were interviewed regarding their offense. The Multi-Factorial Model of Multiple Perpetrator Sexual Offending (MPSO) proposed that various factors (individual, sociocultural, and situational) play a role in this type of sexual assault, noting in particular the importance of group dynamics and processes. In the current study, 25 convicted perpetrators of multiple perpetrator sexual offending housed in educational centers and prisons in Portugal were interviewed about their involvement and reasons for participating in the offense. The findings suggested that group processes and dynamics play an important part in this type of sexual offending. Furthermore, the results provided some evidence to support the factors proposed by the Multi-Factorial Model of MPSO. These findings have implications for prevention and treatment programs and for the assessment of offenders.

Language: en

Keywords

Group rape; Group sex offending; Multiple perpetrator rape; Multiple perpetrator sexual offending; Sex offenders