Unraveling the Personality Profile of the Sexual Murderer

Abstract

Although sexual homicide offenders (SHOs) evince personality disorders, few prior studies have examined all personality disorders or utilized control groups of offenders. Drawing on data from 616 adult male sex offenders including 85 who were SHOs, the current study examined the personality profile of the SHOs, by comparing them with a group of violent nonhomicidal sex offenders (VNHSOs) and a group of nonhomicidal sex offenders (NHSOs) on clinical diagnostics of personality disorders and various crime characteristics. The personality profile of SHOs is comprised primarily of Schizoid and Borderline Personality Disorders, and these offenders were significantly likely to select a victim, use a weapon, and use drugs and alcohol before their offenses, but less likely to force their victim to engage in sexual acts or humiliate them. The comorbidity of Schizoid, Borderline, and Antisocial Personality Disorder features presents unique personality dysfunction that facilitates the lethal sexual violence of SHOs relative to their nonhomicidal sexual offender peers.

Lethal combinations: A conjunctive analysis of crime scene behavior associated with sexual homicide

“…Beauregard and colleagues (Beauregard & DeLisi, , ; Beauregard, DeLisi, & Hewitt, ; Beauregard & Martineau, ; Chopin & Beauregard, ) have overcame this limitation by splitting their group of sex offenders into violent and non‐violent subgroups. In their study examining the criminal career, Beauregard et al () found that the NHSOs had more convictions for rape/sexual abuse and other sexual offenses relating to exhibitionism; they were also more specialized in their offending repertoires.…”

“…Beauregard and DeLisi () also compared the three groups of offenders as to their personality disorders, while taking into account crime scene behaviors. They showed that SHOs were more likely to be characterized with schizoid and borderline personality disorders and chose to select a victim, use a weapon, and use drugs and alcohol before their offenses.…”

“…Moreover, SHOs were more likely to have reported cruelty against animals, whereas the violent NHSOs were more likely to have reported rebellious attitude and neuropsychological deficits compared with offenders committing SHs. Beauregard and DeLisi (2018b) also compared the three groups of offenders as to their personality disorders, while taking into account crime scene behaviors. They showed that SHOs were more likely to be characterized with schizoid and borderline personality disorders and chose to select a victim, use a weapon, and use drugs and alcohol before their offenses.…”

The lesser of two evils? Sexual homicide as an “hybrid” offense

“…These offenders were also significantly more likely to select a victim, use a weapon, and use drugs and alcohol before their offenses, but less likely to force their victim to engage in sexual acts or humiliate them. Beauregard and DeLisi (2018b) argued that the comorbidity of Schizoid, Borderline, and Antisocial Personality Disorder features presented unique personality dysfunction that facilitates the lethal sexual violence relative to the non-lethal sexual violence. Beauregard, DeLisi, and Hewitt (2017) examined differences among the three groups of offenders on their criminal career.…”

Homicidal child sexual abuse: Identifying the combinations of factors predicting a lethal outcome

“…A first set of studies determined that when compared with nonhomicidal sex offenders (NSHOs), SHOs presented with several specific characteristics. SHOs were more likely to present with personality disorders (antisocial, borderline personality, schizoid), maladaptive personality traits, and various paraphilic disorders, including sexual sadism (see Beauregard & DeLisi, 2018b;Chopin & Beauregard, 2019e;Grubin, 1994;Oliver et al, 2007;Proulx & Sauvêtre, 2007). For instance, Beauregard and DeLisi (2018a) focused on developmental factors and determined that SHOs were more likely to present a background characterized by abuse and a variety of problematic behaviors (chronic lying, angry temperament, running away, reckless behaviors), and to have reported cruelty against animals.…”