Sexual Offenders

offenders, as well as whether deviant sexual interest is the purpose for offending, or based on other internal links of criminality.

In addition to this, behaviour of offenders can described as sexual deviant arousal. Becker (1998); Lalumiere and Quinsey (1994) state that individuals who are able to maintain a sexual relationship or feelings with unsuitable stimuli, such as, animals, objects or children, are more likely to commit crimes of sexual assault based on their sexual desires. The behaviours of sexual offenders can be interlinked with (Pavlov 1927; Skinner; 1932) role of classical and operant conditioning to suggest behaviours of sexual offending and deviant sexual arousal. Self-regulation behavioural factors can inhibit deviant sexual

Furthermore, besides behavioural theorists, the regulatory of mood states can also influence deviant sexual behaviour. Anxiety, depression and low self-esteem can reinforce sexual activities due to the inability to cope with strong emotional stressors, causing offenders to use sexual stimulation to regulate their mood and hormones efficiently, most commonly known as a coping strategy (Maletzky, 1993).

Furthermore, societal issues can influence and contribute to a fundamental factor related to the reasons behind committing sexual offences. Clarke and Cornish (1985) propose that although there is a rational choice framework implemented, the decision making process can differ depending on which type of crime offenders choose to commit. Clarke and Cornish (1986) further research stated that the theory should be

Moreover, sex offending can also be argued that paedophilia is seen as a sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is an innate response of prenatal factors that influence the sexual orientation of individuals through development and environmental processes (Dresher and Zucker, 2006). Bailey (2002) concludes that sexual orientation is also influenced by prenatal factors and biological and neuroanatomical responses are highly significant to paedophilia. Whereas, Marshall (2008) social construction of paedophilia can be associated with poor relationships formed with adults, suggesting a stronger level of communication and interaction is formed with young adults or children, although individuals may be unaware of their intentions in the first instance, sexual interest in children can be discovered as early as in their adolescents, however, Marshall (2008) also states that paedophilic preferences can differ over time. Furthermore, Marshall (1997) conducted a study to examine offender’s pre-post arousal to children, it was reported that offenders showed greater interest to children, as opposed to adults, the result of this study identified that offenders were clinically assessed and diagnosed with paedophilia. Whether this examination was ethically conducted accurately, (Hari, 2001) statement differs from this and states that paedophilia is a complex issue, as there are a