Professional Perspectives on Sexual Sadism

• Published in: Sexual abuse Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 272 - 304
• Main Authors: McLawsen, Julia E., Jackson, Rebecca L., Vannoy, Steven D., Gagliardi, Gregg J., Scalora, Mario J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.09.2008
• Subjects: Adult; Antisocial Personality Disorder - diagnosis; Attitude of Health Personnel; Clinical Competence; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Offenses; Paraphilic Disorders - diagnosis; Practice Patterns, Physicians; Respect; Sadism - classification; Sadism - diagnosis; Sex Offenders; Sex Offenses - classification; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; United States; diagnostic validity; sexual offenders; mental health professionals; behavioral indicators; sexual sadism

Significant controversy surrounds the diagnosis of sexual sadism. Research suggests that many characteristics attributed to sexual sadists fail to differentiate sexual offenders with and without this diagnosis. Furthermore, when there are differences between sadists and nonsadists, “sadistic” featur...