Citation

Chopin J, Beauregard E. Psychol. Crime Law 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/1068316X.2021.2018442

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study aims to examine whether sexual sadism manifests itself differently between sadistic sexual murderers and determine whether these differences are influenced by offender, victim, and crime characteristics, as well as by situational constraints. The sample used in this study consists of 285 cases of sadistic sexual homicides committed in France or Canada. Latent class analysis was used to identify heterogeneity in sadistic behaviors while external validity analysis was used to confirm the model. The results showed that sexual sadism may be manifested according to four distinct patterns in sadistic sexual homicides: Anal/oral sex, inanimate object insertion, collector, and torture/mutilation. These different types are influenced by offender, victim and crime characteristics while it is not the case of situational constraints. This study presents both theoretical and practical implications in terms of criminal investigation and clinical intervention.

Language: en

Keywords

latent class analysis; manifestation of sadism; sexual homicide; Sexual sadism; situational constraints