Versatility vs specialization: Poly-perpetration in self-reported adolescent sexual offenders

• In Event: Common and Less Common Youth Crimes: Examples from Israel, Greece, Poland, Spain & UK

Abstract

The dichotomy between versatility and specialization in criminal behavior is pivotal in both theoretical and applied criminology, particularly concerning the prevention of sexually violent acts. While the prevailing literature, such as Wiesner et al. (2018), suggests a trend towards versatility among youthful offenders, investigations into these patterns within the general adolescent population remain scarce.
Based on the existing literature on generalist and specialized positions of criminal behavior, the objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between self-reported sexual violence behaviors and other types of violent behavior in a sample of adolescents attending school in Spain.
The total number of self-reported violent behaviors was analyzed in a sample of 160 perpetrators of sexual violence aged between 14 and 17 years. Violent behavior was assessed through a questionnaire specifically designed for this study comprising 22 items, with 11 referring to sexual violence.
Results indicate that 70.63% of the perpetrators of sexual violence behaviors also acknowledge having committed other forms of violent behavior, with an average of 4.3 (SD = 4.2). A closer examination of specific violent behaviors disclose that sexual violence perpetrators are also involved in child-parent violence (30.6%), physical assault on peers (26.3%), and peer harassment (26.3%).
This study stands as a pioneering in Spain, aligning with international studies to underscore the complexity of adolescent violent behavior. It offers critical insights for developing targeted prevention strategies against the multifaceted phenomenon of adolescent violence.

Authors

• Laura Pascual, universidad de Barcelona

• Noemí Pereda, Universitat de Barcelona

• Georgina Guilera, Universitat de Barcelona