Poster #58 - Developmental Pathways to Recidivism in Individuals Who Have Committed Sexual Offenses Against Women: A Three-Dimensional Model

• In Event: ASC Poster Session I

Abstract

Research conducted over the past decades on individuals who have committed sexual offenses against women (ICSOAW) has identified a set of static and dynamic factors contributing to the commission of sexual offense and sexual recidivism (Hanson & Morton-Bourgon, 2019). The manifestation of these factors can be grouped into three broad behavioral dimensions: (1) externalization, (2) internalization, and (3) sexualization. However, few studies have examined the interaction between these three dimensions in predicting different forms of recidivism (sexual, violent nonsexual, and nonviolent/nonsexual) among ICSOAW. Building on previous research, the present study analyzes how these three dimensions interact in predicting recidivism within a sample of 206 ICSOAW, including 37 individuals who have committed a sexual homicide. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), the results indicate that externalized behavioral manifestations are positively associated with violent and non-violent/non-sexual recidivism, while sexualized behavioral manifestations are specifically linked to sexual recidivism. Moreover, internalized behavioral manifestations are linked to sexual recidivism only indirectly, through its influence on sexualized behavioral manifestations. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Authors

• Alexandre Gauthier, Université de Montréal

• Etienne Garant, Université de Montréal