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2.2 - The Behaviour of Sex Offenders

from Part II - Psychology and Criminal Behaviour

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2021

By
Kari Davies ,
Heather Flowe  and
Teresa da Silva
Edited by
Jennifer M. Brown  and
Miranda A. H. Horvath
Jennifer M. Brown
Affiliation:
London School of Economics and Political Science
Miranda A. H. Horvath
Affiliation:
University of Suffolk
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Summary

This chapter explores the types of behaviour seen in sex offending. It covers how behaviour has been used to create typologies of offending, as well as how both internal factors – such as fantasy and offender characteristics, and external factors – such as the number of offenders present and the cultural influence on behaviour – can affect sex offender behaviour. It also explores how behaviour can be conceptualised as a pattern demonstrated across a series of offences, and the factors that can affect the consistency of this behaviour. Finally, this chapter outlines how our understanding of sex offender behaviour can contribute to the investigation, assessment, management, and treatment of sex offenders.

Keywords

BehaviourConsistencySex OffendingSex OffenderSerial Offending
Type
Chapter
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The Cambridge Handbook of Forensic Psychology , pp. 195 - 217
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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