An integrated theory of sexual recidivism

Abstract

Over the last twenty years, theories of sexual offending have received a great deal of attention in the literature and there have been a number of important developments. While some theories have focused on the identification of specific causal factors, others have brought together a range of factors in the form of integrated models. Theoreticians who work in this field share the common goal of explaining this highly problematic behaviour so that appropriate interventions can be developed. However, it is interesting to note that, to date, the theoretical research has looked primarily at sexual offending per se, rather than sexual reoffending; thus, there appears to be a gap in the literature. This article seeks to lay out a framework for filling this gap by bringing together two typically disparate bodies of literature; namely, the theories of sexual offending and the risk factors for sexual reoffending.