The role of childhood trauma, psychological problems, and coping in the development of deviant sexual fantasies in sexual offenders

The impact of child sexual abuse on the course of bipolar disorder: a systematic review

“…Furthermore, it has been suggested that childhood sexual abuse may produce a cascade of neurobiological sequelae that have the potential to persist into adolescence or adulthood, providing the neurobiological framework through which childhood abuse might increase the risk for suicidality (102), substance abuse (103, 104), and psychosis (85). Alternatively, it is also possible that psychological distress resulting from childhood sexual abuse may lead victims who have (or will have) bipolar disorder to self‐injure or use drugs or alcohol as a coping strategy or self‐medication mechanism (105–107) employed temporarily to avoid, reduce, anesthetize, interrupt, or alleviate painful internal states (such as thoughts, memories, feelings, affects, or cognitions) associated with the victimization experience (64, 70, 76, 78, 80, 108–110). Because such painful internal states, as well as such strategies employed to avoid or control these re‐experiencing phenomena, may be conceived as subclinical or subsyndromal symptoms of posttraumatic stress (111), it is possible that, even in the absence of posttraumatic stress disorder, the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and increased severity of bipolar disorder could be driven by subclinical or subsyndromal symptoms of posttraumatic stress.…”

Sexual Interest in Children Among an Online Sample of Men and Women

“…In addition to insecure attachment bonds, other studies have found support for the roles of childhood sexual abuse, early atypical sexual interests, and early sexual experiences as developmental precursors for adult deviant sexual fantasies and behaviors (Fagan, Wise, Schmidt, & Berlin, 2002;Lee et al, 2002;Maniglio, 2011Maniglio, , 2012, prostitution (Wilson & Widom, 2010), male and female adolescent sexual offending (Roe-Sepowitz & Krysik, 2008;Seto & Lalumiére, 2010), and female sex offending (Christopher, Lutz-Zois, & Reinhardt, 2007;Kaplan & Green, 1995). Further research is needed to explore the relationship of adverse childhood experiences and sexual interest in children among a general population of men and women.…”

Fantasy, Opportunity, Homicide: Testing Classifications of Necrophilic Behaviour

“…That does not suggest, however, that the case is so unique it cannot be used to test existing classifications of necrophilic behaviour. Deviant sexual fantasies are often reported to develop in context of childhood abuse, serving as a coping mechanism, a means of mitigating or avoiding memories of that abuse; the content of which is then reinforced by high levels of masturbation (Marshall and Marshall 2000;Maniglio 2010Maniglio , 2011. Prentky et al (1989) assert that when fantasy is increasingly rehearsed, it acquires more and more power, which strengthens the association between fantasy content and sexual arousal, from there stronger associations between fantasy and ejaculation develop over time (Prentky et al 1989).…”