Creating a Sex Offender: Childhood Sexual Abuse and Future Pedophilic Behavior

• In Event: Sexual Offenders over the Life Course

Abstract

Various theories have been used to explain sexual offending. Some have focused on individual psychological traits, including poor social skills, a fear of rejection, low self-esteem, or atypical sexual interest. Others focus on the social environment in which the individual is raised, giving credence to the familial relationship as the most important variable. Still others suggest that sexual offending represents genetic transmission of some underlying predisposition. However, none of these consider the shaping of an individual through his traumatic experiences. From being a victim of sexual assault at a young age to receiving substandard treatment from a failed social services system, childhood sexual abuse is something that leaves an indelible mark on an individual, often shaping future sexual behavior. The purpose of this presentation is to elucidate the accumulation of environmental and programmatic factors that can lead to sexual offending, as evidenced through the account of a current sexual predator.

Author

• Patrick McGrain, Gwynedd Mercy University