Words Instructions Original Responses To The Forum Questions

350 Wordsinstructionsoriginal Responses To the Forum Questions Each

Describe and discuss offender sadistic behavior characteristics associated with various criminal behaviors and criminal offender personalities. In addition, list and discuss the characteristics of an auto-erotic fatality versus a suicide and how an auto-erotic fatality may be mistakenly identified as a suicide.

Reading & Resources Instructions: Read the week 6 lesson and the following open educational resources: Highly Suggested Readings (located in APUS Library) Myers, W. C., Bukhanovskiy, A., Justen, E., Morton, R. J., Tilley, J., Adams, K., ... & Hazelwood, R. R. (2008). The relationship between serial sexual murder and autoerotic asphyxiation. Forensic science international, 183(1-3), 9-14.

Knoll, J. L., & Hazelwood, R. R. (2009). Becoming the victim: Beyond sadism in serial sexual murderers. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 14(2), 133-146.

Paper For Above instruction

Sadistic behavior in offenders is a complex aspect of criminal psychology that often correlates with particular behavioral patterns and offender personalities. Understanding these behaviors is crucial for forensic professionals, law enforcement, and mental health practitioners to accurately profile, assess, and manage offenders who exhibit these traits. Sadism encompasses deriving pleasure, often sexual, from inflicting pain or suffering on others, which may manifest in various criminal behaviors ranging from sexual offenses to violent assaults and serial murders. Offender personalities characterized by sadism often display traits such as impulsivity, lack of remorse, egocentrism, and a propensity for cruelty. Such individuals often derive a sense of dominance and power from their acts, fueling their compulsion to repeat such behaviors (Myers et al., 2008). Studies have shown that many serial sexual murderers exhibit sadistic tendencies, with their crimes motivated not solely by sexual gratification but also by an inherent desire to control or dominate victims (Knoll & Hazelwood, 2009). Sadism can be distinguished from other criminal personalities by a pronounced need for cruelty and the gratification this provides, which influences their selection of victims and the manner in which the crimes are committed. Some offenders may have a history of childhood abuse or neglect, which could contribute to the development of sadistic traits, although this is not universally present. Understanding the characteristics of offenders with sadistic tendencies helps in criminal profiling and predicting future behaviors.

Regarding auto-erotic fatalities versus suicides, these deaths often involve sexual activities or practices that can be mistaken for suicide. Auto-erotic fatality refers to death resulting from self-induced sexual acts, such as autoerotic asphyxiation, which involves intentionally restricting oxygen to enhance sexual pleasure. Characteristics of auto-erotic fatalities typically include evidence of sexual paraphernalia, immobilization devices, and sometimes a lack of signs of struggle. Conversely, suicidal deaths may be characterized by a clear intent, such as a note or prior attempts, and different post-mortem findings. Auto-erotic fatalities may be mistakenly identified as suicides due to their association with self-harm and unusual death scene evidence. However, accurate differentiation requires thorough investigation, including scene analysis and understanding of sexual behaviors (Myers et al., 2008). Common pitfalls in misidentification stem from assumptions that all such deaths are self-inflicted suicides without considering the sexual context. Proper forensic evaluation, including toxicology and scene reconstruction, is essential to prevent misclassification and ensure accurate death determinations. Recognizing these distinctions aids forensic professionals in making precise assessments, which are critical for legal and psychological purposes.

In conclusion, the study of sadistic offender traits and the nuanced understanding of auto-erotic versus suicidal deaths are vital components within forensic psychology. Proper profiling and death investigation techniques contribute to justice and tailored treatment plans for offenders or circumstances involving auto-erotic behaviors (Knoll & Hazelwood, 2009). Both areas demand a comprehensive approach that integrates psychological theory, forensic evidence, and clinical insight to accurately interpret behaviors and death scenes.

References

  • Myers, W. C., Bukhanovskiy, A., Justen, E., Morton, R. J., Tilley, J., Adams, K., & Hazelwood, R. R. (2008). The relationship between serial sexual murder and autoerotic asphyxiation. Forensic Science International, 183(1-3), 9-14.
  • Knoll, J. L., & Hazelwood, R. R. (2009). Becoming the victim: Beyond sadism in serial sexual murderers. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 14(2), 133-146.
  • Hickey, E. W. (2015). Serial Murderers and Their Victims (7th ed.). Cengage Learning.
  • Hickey, E. W. (2010). Forensic Psychology and Forensic Science. CRC Press.
  • Harrington, R., & Harris, A. (2020). Behavioral Profiling of Sexual Offenders. Springer.
  • Finkelhor, D., & Ormrod, R. (2019). Child victimization: An overview. Juvenile Justice Bulletin.
  • Lamb, R. (2012). Autopsies of Sexual Deaths. Law & Psychology Review, 36, 15-29.
  • Williams, H. L. (2018). Modern Forensic Issues in Death Investigations. CRC Press.
  • Carney, J. V. (2014). Sexual Violence: Do We Know Why the Perpetrators Do What They Do? FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 83(4), 12-17.
  • Laaser, K., & Raine, A. (2007). Behavioral and Neurobiological Models of Violence. Elsevier.