Validity of physiological measures of pedophilic sexual arousal in a sexual offender population: A reply to Quinsey and Laws.

V. L. Quinsey and D. R. Laws (see record 1991-10127-001) have criticized the study by G. C. Hall et al (see record 1988-20414-001) of the validity of physiological measures of pedophilic arousal on several methodological grounds. However, Hall et al did use standardized procedures which suggested that such physiological measures lack external validity. Moreover, the Hall et al results are consistent with many other recent physiological studies that have used large, representative populations of sexual offenders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validity of physiological measures of pedophilic sexual arousal in a sexual offender population: A critique of Hall, Proctor, and Nelson.

It is argued that methodological problems in comparison by G. C. Hall et al (see record 1988-20414-001) of phallometric data on child molesters and rapists include confounding of stimulus category and duration, omission of neutral stimuli and a normal control group, failure to employ relative measures of sexual preference, and failure to exclude Ss who did not respond to the sexual stimuli. V. L. Quinsey and D. R. Laws maintain that, although these methodological problems preclude accepting the conclusions drawn in the Hall et al article, the problems illustrate the need to develop common methodological standards for phallometric research on sexual offenders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Criminological predictors of recidivism in a sexual offender population.

In the present study, the utility of criminological variables as predictors of recidivism was investigated among 342 male sexual offenders. A multivariate regression analysis indicated that arrests for sexual offenses against adults were associated with arrests for sexual re-offenses against adults and with nonsexual violent re-arrests. Sexual-re-offense specialization was observed among sexual offenders with adult and with child victims. Although many of the relations were statistically significant, the magnitude of these relations does not warrant the sole use of criminological variables for decisions regarding individual sexual offenders. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ephedrine-activated physiological sexual arousal in women

The cofactor specificity of serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) activities was tested in extracts of several methanogens using tetrahydromethanopterin (H4MPt) from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum Marburg, tetrahydrosarcinapterin (H4SPt) from Methanosarcina barkeri, and tetrahydrofolate (H4folate) as the potential C1 carrier. In Methanosphaera stadtmanae and Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus, the activities were H4MPt dependent. In Methanospirillum hungatei GP1, Methanosaeta concilii, Methanolobus tindarius, and Methanosarcina barkeri Fusaro, the activities were strictly H4folate dependent. H4SPt was reactive with the SHMT of Methanosphaera stadtmanae but not with that of Methanosarcina barkeri. In both Methanosarcina barkeri and Methanospirillum hungatei, pyridoxal phosphate stimulated SHMT activity. The apparent K(m) values for H4folate and L-serine were 0.086 and 0.29 mM in Methanosarcina barkeri and 0.065 and 0.31 mM in Methanospirillum hungatei, respectively.     

Criminal behavior as a function of clinical and actuarial variables in a sexual offender population.

The ability of clinical and actuarial variables to predict criminal behavior was investigated in a sample of 342 sexual offenders that was previously used in a study by Hall and Proctor (1987). Discriminant analyses suggested that a linear combination of actuarial variables was significantly predictive of sexual reoffenses against adults and of nonsexual violent and nonviolent reoffending. However, clinical judgment was not significantly predictive of recidivism, nor were actuarial or clinical variables predictive of sexual reoffending against children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-reported hostility as a function of offense characteristics and response style in a sexual offender population.

The Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI), the Hostility Toward Women Scale (HTWS), and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Social Desirability and Defensiveness scales were examined in a sample of 239 sexual offenders, 23 of whom had previously been studied. Sexual offenders against adolescents and adults had higher BDHI scores than sexual offenders against children. However, multiple regression equations revealed that the MMPI Defensiveness scale accounted for more of the shared variance in both types of self-reported hostility than did the maturity of the subjects' victims or the level of force used in the commission of the sexual offenses. Social desirability was significantly associated with the HTWS but not with the BDHI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anxiety increases sexual arousal.

12 21–30 yr old males who were trained to expect tolerance-level electric shocks viewed an erotic film under 3 counterbalanced conditions. In 1 condition, Ss viewed the erotic film in conjunction with a signal light indicating threat of shock. A 2nd light indicated threat of shock if Ss did not achieve an erection of a certain size. A 3rd light indicated no shock. Both anxiety-inducing shock-threat conditions increased penile size response over and above the no-shock-threat condition. Furthermore, shock threat contingent on size of erection produced more arousal than noncontingent-shock threat. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modification of dysfunctional patterns of sexual response through autonomic arousal and false physiological feedback.

Examined effects of autonomic arousal (AUA) and positive-false vaginal blood volume (VBV) to identify how cognitive and physiological mechanisms mediate sexual arousal, and can be modified to reverse dysfunctional processes. 64 women were randomly assigned to autonomic arousal-evoking or neutral-control preexposure film stimulus paired with an erotic stimulus, positive-false VBV feedback or no feedback. Results revealed general AUA enhanced genital arousal; false feedback increased, expectations of sexual arousal, actual vasocongestive response, the subsequent experience of sexual arousal, heightened expectations with false feedback were followed by an increase in actual genital response within 30 s, and effects of AUA and false feedback enhanced expectations and subsequent genital arousal to levels comparable with those of sexually functional women within 3 min. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of emotional arousal on subsequent sexual arousal in men.

The effect of emotional arousal on subsequent sexual arousal was assessed in 14 18–34 yr old men. Ss initially viewed either 1 of 2 emotionally arousing videotapes (depression-and-anger or anxiety-and-anger producing) or a neutral videotape (a travelogue), each of which was followed by an erotic videotape. Sexual arousal was measured physiologically with a penile strain gauge. Although there were no differences in the level of sexual arousal during the antecedent emotionally arousing or neutral videotapes, sexual arousal during the subsequent erotic videotapes was differentially affected by them. Sexual arousal following the anxiety-and-anger videotape was greater than that following either the depression-and-anger videotape or the travelogue. Prior exposure to the travelogue resulted in greater sexual arousal than did the videotape producing depression and anger. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validity of MMPI sex offender scales with admitters and nonadmitters.

Compared 130 male sex offenders with 239 male controls on the MMPI special scales of sexual deviance. Offenders differed from controls on 3 sexual deviance scales, but these differences were accounted for by admitters alone. Comparison of admitters with controls who had a comparable degree of psychopathology showed that the differences were not based on general psychopathology. On the same 3 sexual deviance scales, nonadmitters differed from a control group that had comparable defensiveness, showing that nonadmitters could be discriminated from nonoffenders on the basis of sexual deviance and not simply on defensiveness. The results have implications for the eventual development of procedures for assessing sexually deviant men even when they do not admit their offenses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of alcohol on sexual arousal in women.

During weekly experimental sessions each of 16 university females received in counterbalanced order 4 doses of beverage alcohol prior to viewing a control film and an erotic film. Half of the Ss were instructed beforehand that alcohol would increase their degree of sexual arousal in response to the erotic film; the other half were told that alcohol would decrease their sexual arousal. Measures of vaginal pressure pulse obtained by means of a vaginal photoplethysmograph showed a significant negative linear relation with alcohol doses. A significant Sessions * Instructional Set interaction indicated that Ss in the increase-set condition experienced less sexual arousal. This result is attributed to performance pressure induced by the demand characteristics of the instructional set. Additional measures of sexual arousal, including TAT responses and self-report, showed no differences. With increasing levels of intoxication, however, a greater proportion of Ss reported enhanced sexual arousal. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Subjective sexual arousal to films of masturbation.

A film of a male or female masturbating was viewed by 96 male and 102 female undergraduate volunteers. Following the film, Ss responded to 3 measures of subjective sexual arousal and to 7 measures of affective responses. Males reported the highest level of sexual arousal to the female film and the lowest level of arousal to the male film. Males who viewed the film of the male masturbating reported the most disgust, depression, guilt, and shame. Females were sexually aroused by both films. Women who masturbated more frequently reported more sexual arousal to the films than the other 3 groups. A measure of negative attitudes toward masturbation differentiated the sexual arousal and affective responses of Ss. Sex guilt (measured by the Sex Guilt subscale of the Mosher Forced-Choice Guilt Inventory) was related to negative affective responses to the films. Several interpretations of the meaning of the data are offered. (40 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Affective consequences of inadequately explained physiological arousal.

Reexamined S. Schachter and J. E. Singer's (see record 1963-06064-001) reported demonstration of cognitively influenced physiological determinants in the experience of emotion. In the present study with 85 male undergraduates, reports of affective state by placebo-injected and epinephrine-injected Ss, who were misinformed about possible somatic effects and exposed to a euphoric confederate, did not differ. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Process issues in treatment: Application to sexual offender programs.

How critical is the therapeutic alliance in the treatment of sexual offenders? To date such process issues have been neglected in the field of sex offender treatment. This article reviews the literature on the influence on behavior change of therapist features, clients' perceptions, and the therapeutic alliance. Among the many therapist features identified as helpful are empathy, warmth, and being directive and rewarding. Therapists who are aggressively confrontational appear not to foster beneficial changes in their clients. These issues are directly related to treatment issues faced by therapists who work with sexual offenders, such as dealing with cognitive distortions, lack of empathy, and lack of motivation to change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Alcohol, sexual arousal, and self-control.

Investigated the effects of alcohol on self-regulation using delay of gratification for viewing time for an erotic film as the primary dependent measure. Other measures included reflection–impulsivity, locus of control, sexual-guilt scores, and continuous recording of Ss' penile tumescence. Using a balanced placebo design with 50 undergraduate men, Ss were led to believe that they had consumed an alcoholic or a nonalcoholic beverage, and half of each of these 2 groups received either alcohol or tonic water. In addition, the effects of 3 doses of alcohol (placebo, low dose, high dose) were investigated. Instructional set, regardless of drink content, resulted in longer delay times and increased thoughts with sexual content. Although there was no significant relation between increasing dose of alcohol and delay time, there was an interaction between scores on Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale and alcohol dose. Externalizers showed an inverse linear relation between increasing dose of alcohol and delay time. Internalizers showed the opposite trend. Results support other research showing that expectations about drinking can be more potent predictors of behavior than the pharmacological impact of alcohol. Implications for the self-regulation of sexual behavior under the influence of alcohol are discussed. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of sexual arousal and guilt upon free associative sexual responses.

Studied sexual associations given to double-entendre words in relation to individual differences in sex-guilt and differing degrees of sexual stimulation. The Mosher Incomplete Sentences Test was used as a measure of sex-guilt. Ss were 84 college males. Results indicate a significant effect between sex-guilt and sexual stimulation. The stimulation procedure produced sexual response increments for both high- and low-guilt groups, but only the increment for low-guilt Ss was significant. (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predicting relapse: A meta-analysis of sexual offender recidivism studies.

Evidence from 61 follow-up studies was examined to identify the factors most strongly related to recidivism among sexual offenders. On average, the sexual offense recidivism rate was low (13.4%; n?=?23,393). There were, however, subgroups of offenders who recidivated at high rates. Sexual offense recidivism was best predicted by measures of sexual deviancy (e.g., deviant sexual preferences, prior sexual offenses) and, to a lesser extent, by general criminological factors (e.g., age, total prior offenses). Those offenders who failed to complete treatment were at higher risk for reoffending than those who completed treatment. The predictors of nonsexual violent recidivism and general (any) recidivism were similar to those predictors found among nonsexual criminals (e.g., prior violent offenses, age, juvenile delinquency). Our results suggest that applied risk assessments of sexual offenders should consider separately the offender's risk for sexual and nonsexual recidivism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of alcohol on sexual arousal in male alcoholics.

During successive daily sessions, each of 8 29–44 yr old chronic male alcoholics received, in counterbalanced order, doses of beverage alcohol (.08, .4, .8, and 1.2 g/kg) prior to viewing nonerotic and erotic films. Measures of penile tumescence obtained by means of a penile plethysmograph showed a significant negative linear effect of increasing alcohol doses during the heterosexual and homosexual films. Ss' expectations about the effect of alcohol on sexual arousal and behavior were discrepant with these physiological findings. Consistently, Ss reported that alcohol would have no effect on their sexual arousal or would increase it. Results are discussed with reference to other studies, and it is concluded that penile tumescence is a convenient, reliable, and discriminating measure of male sexual arousal. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)