Modus Operandi and Situational Aspects in Adolescent Sexual Offenses Against Children

Abstract

The relationship between situational factors and the modus operandi of 103 adolescents involved in sexual offenses against children (12 years old or younger) is analyzed. Situational factors taken into account in this study are the location of the crime, the offender-victim relationship, and the presence of deviant sexual fantasies involving the victim prior to the offense. Modus operandi strategies were measured on the basis of participants' responses to Kaufman's Modus Operandi Questionnaire. Results indicate that modus operandi strategies are influenced by situational factors and that the offender's home, when no one else is home, is likely to be the place and the situation for adolescent offenders to adopt manipulative strategies. Suggestions are made regarding future modus operandi studies.

Offender Types and Criminality Dimensions in Male Juveniles Convicted of Sexual Offenses

“…The "single offender with severe molestation of a related child" dimension may be relevant for a specific subtype of JSO as represented by the overlap of JSO-C and JSO-solo in the present sample. Further factors, like normal sexual development, increased sexual curiosity (Bancroft, 2006), and an easy access to potential victims (Leclerc, Beauregard, & Proulx, 2008) but also specific social, psychosexual and affective dysfunctions (Hart-Kerkhoffs et al, 2009;Hendriks & Bijleveld, 2004;Hunter et al, 2003;Hunter et al, 2000) play an important role in these juvenile child molesters. Furthermore, exposure to sexual abuse has been found to contribute to later juvenile (Worling, 1995) and adult (Salter et al, 2003) sexual offending which often has been committed against male child victims.…”

Young people, peer-to-peer grooming and sexual offending

“…Future research may need to determine how contemporary grooming methods relate to these earlier findings. Nevertheless, the finding by Leclerc et al (2008), that offenders wait until the costs and benefits have been assessed before committing the crime, may support an hypothesis that sexting and other communications using social media either has or will become the means of choice for grooming since it is perceived by many young people to be safer than face-to-face interactions (Wolak and Finklehor, 2011). Thus, grooming among peers is thought to be amplified by smart phone, tablet and computer technology and a more expeditious process using on-line social media methods (Livingstone and Helsper, 2009).…”

Perfil psicológico e comportamental de agressores sexuais de crianças

“…É consenso que os portadores de pedofilia podem manter seus desejos em segredo durante toda a vida sem nunca compartilhá-los ou torná-los atos reais; podem casar-se com mulheres que já tenham filhos ou atuar em profissões que os mantenham com fácil acesso a crianças, mas raramente causam algum mal [20][21][22] . Por outro lado, os molestadores de crianças, em sua maioria, apresentam motivações variadas para os seus crimes, que raramente têm origem em transtornos formais da preferência sexual 18,19,[23][24][25][26][27] . Acredita-se que a passagem da fantasia para a ação no caso dos pedófilos ocorre com maior frequência quando o indivíduo é exposto a estresse intenso, situações nas quais haja grande pressão psíquica, como discussão conjugal importante, demissão, aposentadoria compulsória etc.…”