Content Analysis of Erotic Imagery: Sex Offenders and Non-Sex Offenders

Abstract

A descriptiveframeworkfor the context analysis of sexualfantasies was developed by examination of the verbatim reports of fantasies of sexual offenders and non-sexual offenders. Twenty-two fantasy themes, subsumed under five major categories of sexual fantasies, were identified. Application of the scale to a sample of fantasies elicited from 103 offenders revealed differences in the frequency of occurrence of various fantasy themes and categories between the sex offenders and non-sex offenders. In addition to demonstrating the diversity of the content of erotic imagery, the study results suggest that the scale may have use in the discrimination of differences relevant to the understanding of sexual deviancy.

Predictors of Recidivism in Australian Juvenile Sex Offenders: Implications for Treatment

“…These data suggest that deviant sexual fantasies occur with similar frequency among incarcerated adult sex offenders and community samples of males. Other studies have found that there are no differences in the sexual fantasy content or frequency between sex offenders and nonsex offender controls (Rokach, Nutbrown, & Nexhipi, 1988). On the basis of available data, Langevin et al (1998, p. 315) concluded that &dquo;... the numbers of (adult) sex offenders reporting deviant fantasies is too low for fantasy to have aetiological significance.&dquo;…”

Men Presenting With Sexual Thoughts of Children or Coercion: Flights of Fancy or Plans for Crime?

“…Prior research, however, is problematic; inferential statistics are sometimes missing, fantasies of male children and adults are combined, fantasies of rape are combined with fantasies of pain or subsumed within broader 'deviant' categories, and comparison groups sometimes have a sexual offending history [9,20]. Other studies include only one comparison [10,13,14,21] or no comparison [e.g. 11] group, failing to confirm whether the prevalence is highest for SO men, comparable to men with similar criminal/legal/prison experiences or men in general.…”

“…Some studies have examined descriptions of men's sexual fantasies, usually their favorite/most frequent [e.g. 30,31], but typically only selected SEXUAL THOUGHTS OF CHILDREN OR COERCION 7 aspects are analysed and comparisons with SO groups are rare [21]. To our knowledge, descriptions of men's sexual fantasies of children or coercing others have not been examined specifically, raising questions about the nature of these fantasies (i.e.…”

A review of cognitive factors in the etiology of rape

“…In an exploratory study by Rokach, Nutbrown, and Nexhipi (1988), no differences between sex offenders and other offenders were found with regard to aggressive content of sexual fantasies. Greendlinger and Byrne (1987) predicted rape proclivity from several self-report measures, including Burt's (1980) RMA Scale and a questionnaire assessing the frequency that the participants entertained various coercive sexual fantasies.…”