Three studies of sexual offenders : female perpetrated sexual victimization, comparison of male and female perpetrated sexual victimization, and escalation histories

This thesis incorporates three studies which explore adult and adolescent male sexual offenders. The first two articles examine the occurrence and effects of female perpetrated sexual abuse within a population of adolescent sexual offenders. The final article explores the occurrence of escalation in the offending histories of adult male sexual offenders. The first article examined the occurrence and characteristics of female perpetrated sexual abuse within a population of adolescent sexual offenders, as well as the arousal and victim chooses of the youth. The findings suggest that this population experiences female sexual abuse at increased rates. Also supporting the \u27victim to victimizer\u27 hypothesis, youth victimized by women were more likely to abuse the gender of their victimizer. The second article compared the characteristics of adolescent sexual offenders who had been victimized only by women with those who had been victimized only by men. Disagreeing with prior literature in places, there were few differences seen in the victim and offence characteristics between the two groups, suggesting that female perpetrated sexual aggression is equal if not more severe than that perpetrated by males. The third article offers previously unresearched detail on the existence of escalation within the offending history of adult male sexual offenders, in regards to victim characteristics (age, gender, relationship to perpetrator), the M.O. and the severity of the offences. There was contradictory evidence regarding escalation across offender\u27s careers, suggesting that sexual offenders are just as likely to escalate as they are to not. Research and treatment implications were discussed