STUDY GUIDE
Unit 1—Sex Behaviours, Crimes and Theories of Sexual Deviance
Overview
Nearly everyone is interested in sex. It sells newspapers and magazines, and it is the number one topic on the Internet. This interest is not abnormal—we are biologically guided to be interested in sex because our species depends upon it. But the interest spills over the reproductive imperative and is a source of pleasure and positive bonding between partners, as well. Sex can also induce many negative emotions and destroy relationships. Many people wonder about the “normality” of their own sexual behaviour. In our society, the range of acceptable sexual behaviours is broad and changing. One hundred years ago, it was unacceptable to openly partake in homosexuality or to marry a person of the same sex. Although it is accepted in Canada today, some countries still consider homosexuality to be criminal.
Our scientific study of human sexuality is relatively recent, beginning in the early 1950s. We knew more about animal sexuality than human sexual behaviour at that point. It has been reinforced from the scientific studies since then that variability in specific acts and such things as frequency do not indicate “normality.” The topic of “abnormality” can indicate a statistical comparison or what the members of society have judged to be abnormal through religious or cultural rules. We could assume that the subjective element of abnormality ends with sexual crimes—for example, it is never normal to rape someone. However, is it legally acceptable for a 17-year-old and 14-year-old to have consensual sexual contact? —or a 21-year-old and 16-year-old? Subjective opinions return in such debates.
After we have defined sexual deviance, we must then theorize the causes of such aberrations. Normal sexual conduct such as fantasy, symbolism, partialism and ritual get distorted by sexual offenders in their compulsive deeds. Most specific sexual behaviours are learned, and some disturbance in the development of appropriate sexual conduct is hypothesized. Other points of view suggest an abnormal biological cause—often in the brain. Other theories suggest abnormalities in the unconscious mind. It will be important in later chapters to keep these ideas in mind while we explore specific sex crimes.
In this unit, we read an article by one of Canada’s senior researchers and clinicians who has devoted much of his professional life to understanding and treating sex offenders. He asks us to weigh our own views of the person committing these crimes when we try to understand all the forces behind their criminal conduct.
STUDY GUIDE
Unit 1—Sex Behaviours, Crimes and Theories of Sexual Deviance
Reading Assignment
- T. Holmes and R. M. Holmes, Sex crimes: Patterns and behavior(3rd ed.), Chapters 1 and 2
Marshall, W. L. (1996). The sexual offender: Monster, victim or everyman? Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 8(4), 317–335.
Brennan, S., & Taylor-Butts, A. (2008). Sexual assault in Canada 2004 and 2007. Ottawa: Minister of Industry.
STUDY GUIDE
Unit 1—Sex Behaviours, Crimes and Theories of Sexual Deviance
Key Terms and Concepts
- Sexual predator
- Habitual sexual offender
- Sexually-oriented offender
- Culture
- Mores
- Folkways
- Vampirism
- Crurofact
- Homosexuality
- Tea rooms
- Lesbianism
- Sodomy
- Roman shower
- Fantasy
- Symbolism
- Partialism
- Ritualism
- Compulsion
- Psychological and psychiatric models
- Social learning model
- Constitutional model
- Sociobiology
