Hazelwood R.R. and Warren J.I.

Hazelwood R.R. And Warren J.I. The Sexually Violent offender: Impulsive or Ritualistic. (2000) Aggression and Violent Behavior. 5(3). pp. 267-279.

Date of publication: 2000

This article attempts to provide a paradigmatic and typological overview of the violent sexual offender. To this end the article distinguishes two different 'types' of sexual offender. The impulsive offender is distinguished from the ritualistic sexual officers on the basis of behavior and motivational patterns.

In attempting this typology the author emphasizes the important point that sexual violence is an extremely complex area of human behavior. This is due to the fact that an understanding of sexual violence includes the complex area of human sexuality as well as the areas of mental disorder and criminality. A central and continuously complicating aspect is the changing and evolving nature of human and sexual behavior, which makes it very 'fluid'. This means that sexually violent behavior includes a variety of interconnected and disparate sexual crimes, from the physically violent to the non-physically violent.

The article however focuses on two generic typologies of sexual violence - namely the ritualistic form of sexual activity which requires complex fantasy constructions and the impulsive sexual crime which is less predetermined and shows" no thought beyond immediate gratification. " (Hazelwood R.R. And Warren J.I. p. 268) This simple typology is intended to firstly order the plethora of complex aspects of this subject area and secondly to serve as a mode or method of interaction and cooperation between law enforcement and clinical studies, which may assist in the apprehension of sexual offenders.

The article essentially investigates the characteristic of the two central types of sexual behavior, using case studies as examples. The impulsive sexual offender is described as the more common and easily apprehended type. (Hazelwood R.R. And Warren J.I. p. 269) The central characteristic of this type of offender is that there is little planning in his actions. His impulsive nature also usually means that little or no measures taken to protect his identity. This impulsive offender is often criminally unsophisticated. Anger is in most cases a motivating factor that instigates the violent behavior.

An important aspect is that there is a connection between aggression and sexual arousal. It was found that this offender links aggressive feelings towards women with his actions and these can be " ... disinhibiting or augmenting forces to the sexual arousal that can be experienced during sexually assault acts." (Hazelwood R.R. And Warren J.I. p. 270) An important facet of this type of offender is that the sexual fantasy is rarely a motivating factor. If there are fantasies they are 'simplistic and concrete." (Hazelwood R.R. And Warren J.I. p. 270) The violent aspect of the crime is associated with a sense of 'entitlement' and the "perception that anything in his environment is there for the taking. He is restrained only by circum-stances in the environment that are related to his own safety." (Hazelwood R.R. nd Warren J.I. p. 271)

A central aspect of the impulsive offender is control and power over the victim. Violence is also often excessive in order to facilitate the level of control that the offender desires. There is however little evidence of paraphilic behavior as this form of behavior is essentially fantasy free.

The article points out through close comparisons that there are marked differences between the impulsive and ritual offender. The most prominent difference is the extreme planning and preparation with regard to the fantasy dimension that characterizes the ritual offender. " He is the offender who invests great amounts of time and effort into he planning and rehearsal of his offences. " (Hazelwood R.R. And Warren J.I. p. 272) While his underlying motivation is power and control, the essential difference in this type of offence is the complex level of cues and perceptions that form an integral part of the sexual offence as well as the level of violence.

The article succeeds in explicating this particular type of criminal in terms of the central behavioral characteristics of this type of crime. The fantasy life of the ritual offence is identified with various aspects of his character. These include the following behavioral characteristics: Relational, Paraphiliac, Demographic, Situational and Self -- Perceptional.

Among these aspects the relational dimension is seen as the most important aspect of the offender's fantasy world. There is also almost always a paraphiliac dimension to the ritual offender's behavior. The situational aspect is also strongly related to the fantasy world that the sexual offender builds around himself and which motivates the actions and levels of violence. A common situation that is created is the victim as a "captive" who is dominated and abused. The Self-Perceptional aspect is also important in this regard, as it relates to the fantasy world and the way in which the offender perceives himself. The ritual offender, in contradiction to the impulsive sexual offender, plans his actions meticulously -- which often involves a period of " preoffence acting out." This acting out may involve inanimate object or consenting partners.