Sadistic Fantasy, Sadistic Behaviour and Offending

Abstract

This paper explores the genesis of sadistic behaviour in men and its relationship to crime. Sixteen male special hospital patients, each with a diagnosis of psychopathic disorder, formed the basis of this descriptive study. In only three cases were the crimes explicable in terms of external circumstances and personality traits. The offences of the remaining 13 cases became comprehensible only when the offender's internal circumstances were explored: investigation revealed repetitive sadistic masturbatory fantasies which had spilled over into overt behaviour because the patients had felt impelled to seek and create increasingly dangerous in vivo 'try-outs' of their fantasies. The paper discusses the crucial link between sadistic fantasy and behaviour.

Understanding the sexual fantasies of sex offenders and their correlates

“…For example, many researchers propose that the recurrent use of deviant sexual fantasies can lead to the commission of a sexual offence in some offenders, whereby the individual becomes motivated to enact the imagery they have mentally simulated within their fantasies (see MacCulloch, Snowden, Wood, & Mills, 1983;Deu & Edelmann, 1997;Wilson & Jones, 2008). This argument is supported by Maniglio's (2010) recent systematic review involving seven studies and a combined total of 171 sexual murderers, where it was found that deviant sexual fantasies promote sexual murder when combined with early traumatic experiences.…”

“…Further, Marshall and Eccles (1991) found, in a sample of 129 child molesters, 22% (n = 28) used child-related fantasies before any sexual involvement with a child. MacCulloch, Snowden, Wood, and Mills (1983) found that 13 out of 16 of their sex offender sample reported spending long periods of time masturbating to sadistic fantasies (including rape, sodomy, kidnap, bondage, flagellation, torture, and killing) before committing their offences. More recently, Dandescu and Wolfe (2003) found that 64.9% of 57 (n = 37) child molesters and 76%…”

“…In order to ensure that sexual arousal is achieved, sexual fantasies are often adapted (MacCulloch et al, 1983;Toledano & Pfaus, 2006). Support for this comes from research investigating sexual dysfunction.…”

School Shootings in Deutschland

“…Einige deutsche Autoren haben die Befunde zur Fantasietätigkeit bei School Shootern aufgegriffen und in Theorien zur Genese schwerer, zielgerichteter Schulgewalt integriert Hoffmann et al, 2003;Lempp, 2006;Robertz, 2004aRobertz, , 2006b Diese werden als zentraler, auslösender Mechanismus für solche Taten betrachtet (Burgess, Hartman, Ressler, Douglas & McCormack, 1986;Prentky et al, 1989 Umsetzung sadistischer Fantasien steigt zudem, wenn diese wiederholt und ausgelebt werden (MacCulloch et al, 1983;Prentky et al, 1989). Obwohl Intelligenz keinen Einfluss auf die Fantasieinhalte hat, begünstigt sie doch die Qualität ihrer Übersetzung in Verhalten (Prentky et al, 1989;vgl.…”

Theories of Deviant Sexual Fantasy

“…There has been much work on sadistic fantasies and sadistic sexual offenders (MacCulloch et al, 1983;Maniglio, 2010). However, MacCulloch et al (2000) recognized that no explanation existed for how sadistic fantasies are initiated in the first place.…”