Stimuli used in the measurement of problematic sexual interests

Murphy, Lisa; Curry, Susan; Klapilová, Kateřina; Dwyer, Ross G.; Zikánová, Tereza; Fedoroff, J. Paul

doi:10.1080/09540261.2018.1547691

Cited by 6 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…For the first and second criteria, the PPG has been the subject of numerous studies that have been published in peer‐reviewed journals. Although there is a long history of research on the PPG, within the last 5 years specifically, it has been studied using samples of men with pedophilic interests (Müller et al, ), examining attempts to dissimulate (Babchishin, Curry, Fedoroff, Bradford, & Seto, ; Trottier, Rouleau, Renaud, & Goyette, ), comparisons of PPG laboratories, techniques, and standardization (Demidova et al, ; Murphy & Fedoroff, ; Murphy, Ranger, Stewart, et al, , Murphy, Ranger, Fedoroff, et al, ), PPG stimuli (Dennis, Rouleau, Renaud, Nolet, & Saumur, ; Murphy et al, ; Murphy, Ranger, Fedoroff, Burke, & Dwyer, ; Rosetti et al, ), and meta‐analytic techniques (McPhail et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From a criminal justice perspective, this may cause issues when a forensic expert for the defense uses one PPG assessment laboratory and the forensic expert for the prosecution uses a different laboratory with different stimulus and testing protocol. Things become further complicated if the PPG assessments show conflicting results (Murphy et al, ). PPG can provide valuable information that contributes to the formulation of the forensic expert's clinical opinion about treatability, and subsequently, risk of recidivism.…”

Section: Use Of Ppg In Canadian Lawmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of the laboratories that use PPG, there are variations in terms of modality, duration, quality, content, and theme of the stimuli presented (Demidova et al, ; Murphy et al, ). One difficulty is that different countries and jurisdictions are governed by different legal regulations concerning the types of stimuli that are permitted for forensic clinical assessments (Demidova et al, ; Murphy, Ranger, Stewart, et al, , Murphy, Ranger, Fedoroff, et al, ; Murphy et al, ; O'Shaughnessy, ; Rosetti, Curry, Murphy, Bradford, & Fedoroff, ). For example, within Canada, the Criminal Code permits the use of nude images of children in clinical assessments where it “has a legitimate purpose related to the administration of justice or to science, medicine […] and does not pose a risk of harm to persons under the age of eighteen years” (Criminal Code, R.S.C., , c. C‐46, 163.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This calculation determines the pedophile index. These indices can be calculated to reflect any targeted sexual interest reported by the examinee and they can apply to stimuli reflecting interest in any age or gender grouping (Demidova et al, ; Murphy, Ranger, Stewart, et al, ; Murphy et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several published reports discuss the reliability and validity of PPG assessments (Fernandez, ; Marshall, ; McPhail et al, ; Merdian & Jones, ; Murphy et al, ). Concerning the utility of PPG, Marshall (), notes that, “Despite these reservations, phallometry remains the best approach to establishing a sex offender's sexual interest and, so long as the resultant data is interpreted [by experts and] with caution, they can usefully contribute to risk assessment and to defining targets for treatment” (p. 3).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Use of penile plethysmography in the court: A review of practices in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States

Murphy

Gottfried

DiMario

et al. 2020

Behavioral Sci & The Law

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Penile plethysmography (PPG) is an objective measure of male sexual arousal in response to the presentation of a series of erotic and neutral stimuli. This measure is now widely recognized as the most reliable means of objectively measuring male sexual arousal to specific stimuli. Many clinicians and researchers consider PPG to be a vital contribution to the assessment and treatment of adult men with paraphilic interests and men who have committed sex crimes. PPG contributes to the clinical assessment of paraphilic interests, appraisal of risk of recidivism, and provides an objective measurement of changes in sexual arousal in response to treatment. There is strong support for the utility of PPG within clinical and legal contexts. This article addresses ways in which PPG has been utilized in the courts as part of expert clinical opinion. History of its use, details regarding admissibility in court, and case law are explored within the legal systems of Canada, the UK and the USA. Support for the inclusion of PPG as expert evidence is provided and judicial misunderstandings on the rationale for PPG use and its clinical utility in forensic assessments are discussed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Use Of Ppg In Canadian Lawmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Use of penile plethysmography in the court: A review of practices in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States

Murphy

Gottfried

DiMario

et al. 2020

Behavioral Sci & The Law

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Measuring Pedophilic Sexual Interest

Carvalho

Bradford

Murphy

et al. 2020

The Journal of Sexual Medicine

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Introduction Pedophilic sexual interest is an important risk factor in sexual offender recidivism and remains a key component in the clinical assessment of child sexual offenders and people diagnosed with pedophilia. Despite concerns about the absence of universally accepted standardized clinical assessment methods, there are a number of established techniques aimed at assessing people with sexual interest in children. Aim To provide a foundation from which to understand existing methods available for the assessment of people with pedophilic sexual interests, including strengths and limitations of each approach. Methods A group of clinical experts provide a clinically oriented, narrative review on assessment methods for pedophilic sexual interest, including the rationale behind each method and its implementation. Evidence on validity supporting the techniques, limitations, and ethical issues is also discussed. Results The assessment methods were grouped according to the following categories: self-report, genital psychophysiological assessment, indirect measurement, and behavioral measurement of pedophilic interest. Although most techniques performed well in discriminating child sexual offenders with pedophilic interest from distinct comparison groups, there are several limitations, including the current lack of standardization and the ethical challenges posed by this sensitive area. Clinical implications An understanding of the different measures available for the assessment of problematic sexual interests plays a vital role in forensic clinical determinations of risk of recidivism and in the identification of treatment targets for men who have committed sexual offenses. Several independent but complimentary methods exist to assess sexual interest. Ongoing work on the international standardization of assessment based on methodologically sound research aimed at determining best practices will address some of the shortcomings of these assessments while improving their reliability. Strengths & limitations This article provides a general review on a number of methods aimed at assessing pedophilic interest. However, these methods mirror clinical practice largely used within North America and parts of continental Europe. As a result of cultural differences, opposing paradigms on assessment and treatment of pedophilia, and diverse legal regulation between jurisdictions and countries, these practices may not be applicable on an international scale where other special procedures may be required. Conclusion A number of techniques have been used within clinical and research settings that vary from self-report to objective measures. Most methods have demonstrated efficacy. Continued work to combine evidence and experience from diverse populations and multiple countries will improve the quality of the methods available.

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Rare, but potentially risky, high individual increase of self-reported sexual arousal in men, who have committed sexual offenses against children, while being confronted with experimental sexual stimuli — a retrospective data analysis

Jordan,

Fromberger,

Müller

et al. 2023

Int J Impot Res

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This data analysis was initiated to further understand the infrequent yet intense instances of sexual arousal and signs of decompensation that emerge after exposing men who have committed sexual offenses against children to experimental sexual stimuli. We analyzed retrospectively and exploratory data of a self-developed sexual arousal questionnaire (“Current-State-of-Emotions-Questionnaire”, CSEQ) with the following objectives: (i) examine subjective sexual arousal changes elicited during confrontation with experimental sexual stimuli, (ii) analyze these sexual arousal changes at an individual level to detect large responses, and (iii) ask for associations between large responses in sexual arousal and individual characteristics of participants, e.g., demographic, clinical, and criminological parameters. The sample consisted of 241 adult, male Germans, comprising four groups: Ten individuals who have committed sexual offenses against children and have been placed in forensic psychiatric facilities (ISOCFP), 31 non-hospitalized individuals with sexual interest in children (ISIC), eight individuals who have committed other offenses and have been placed in forensic psychiatric facilities (IOFP), and 192 individuals without sexual interest in children and offense histories (IWO). We found a significant increase in subjective sexual arousal after confrontation with sexual stimuli (three experiments: initial orientation: Z = −4.819, p < .001, sexual distractor task: Z = −2.954, p = .003, stimulus rating: Z = −6.899, p < .001). Up to 14.3% of participants indicated high sexual arousal values before, but mainly after the experiments, with 20.0% of ISOCFP, 12.9% of ISIC, 12.5% of IOFP, and 14.6% of IWO. ISOCFP and ISIC with high sexual arousal were more likely to be diagnosed with paraphilia (pedophilia) and/or affective disorders, and to receive anti-depressive treatment. We assume a higher emotional lability or/and reduced emotion regulation abilities in those individuals. A careful weighing up of anticipated scientific knowledge gain and a potentially, though rare, increased risk of recidivism or decompensation seems indispensable.

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Stimuli used in the measurement of problematic sexual interests

Cited by 6 publications

References 73 publications

Use of penile plethysmography in the court: A review of practices in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States

Use of penile plethysmography in the court: A review of practices in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States

Measuring Pedophilic Sexual Interest

Rare, but potentially risky, high individual increase of self-reported sexual arousal in men, who have committed sexual offenses against children, while being confronted with experimental sexual stimuli — a retrospective data analysis

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