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Cited by 340Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual OffendingCrime Patterns and InterventionsSexual Assault and Victimization Studies

The Motivation-Facilitation Model of Sexual Offending

Seto, Michael C.·2019·Sexual Abuse
DOI 10.1177/1079063217720919
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Abstract

In this article, I describe the motivation-facilitation model of sexual offending, which identifies the traits of paraphilia, high sex drive, and intense mating effort as primary motivations for sexual offenses, as well as trait (e.g., antisocial personality) and state (e.g., intoxication) factors that can facilitate acting on these motivations when opportunities exist. Originally developed to explain contact sexual offending against children, the motivation-facilitation model was subsequently extended as an explanation for child pornography offending and for online solicitations of young adolescents. Here, I argue it has the potential to be expanded to explain other forms of sexual offending, including sexual assaults of adults and noncontact offenses involving exhibitionism or voyeurism. In this review, I critically examine the evidence for and against the model, discuss its limitations, and identify critical gaps for future research.

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81 of 81 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • In the MFM, offense patterns are shaped by facilitators such as self-regulation problems and alcohol use, and situational factors such as access to victims and absence of supervision.

    “In the MFM, offense patterns are shaped by facilitators, such as self-regulation problems and alcohol use, and situational factors, such as access to victims, and absence of supervision.”

    From AI-generated child sexual abuse material: what’s the harm? (2026) · cites this paper as Seto 2019

  • Seto's Motivation-Facilitation Model (MFM) provides a well-established structure for understanding pathways to sexual offending, particularly differentiating between motivational factors and facilitation and situational factors.

    “Seto's MotivationFacilitation Model (MFM) provides a well-established structure for understanding pathways to sexual offending, particularly differentiating between the motivational factors that drive an individual's interest in CSAM and the facilitation and situational factors that enable offending behavior (Seto 2019).”

    From AI-generated child sexual abuse material: what’s the harm? (2026) · cites this paper as Seto 2019

  • AI CSAM risks enhancing existing or opening new pathways into offending, either by facilitating escalation of pornography consumption toward more extreme material or by reducing protective barriers.

    “Consistent with the MFM (Seto 2019), AI CSAM risks enhancing existing or opening new pathways into offending, either by facilitating the escalation of pornography consumption toward more extreme material or by reducing protective barriers that would otherwise prevent engagement with CSAM by people with a longstanding sexual interest in children.”

    From AI-generated child sexual abuse material: what’s the harm? (2026) · cites this paper as Seto 2019

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Authors
Seto, M. C.
Affiliations
Royal Ottawa Health Care Group, Brockville, Ontario, Canada
Corresponding author
Seto, Michael C.
ORCID
Seto, Michael C.
Venue
Sexual Abuse
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2017-07-17
Volume
31
Issue
1
Pages
3-24
ISSN
  • 1079-0632 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-286X
DOI
10.1177/1079063217720919
OpenAlex
W2737203213
Cited by
339
References
82
Citations by year
2026: 50 · 2025: 47 · 2024: 53 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 48 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 1
FWCI
19.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Sexual Abuse (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
Keywords
sexual offending, paraphilias, sexual desire, mating effort, antisocial personality, poisoning, child sexual abuse, exhibitionism, voyeurism, adult sexual assault
MeSH terms
Child, Child Abuse, Sexual, Humans, Libido, Models, Psychological, Motivation, Pedophilia, Risk Factors, Sex Offenses, Criminals

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