Sexual Homicide: A Synthesis of the Literature
Abstract
Sexual homicide is a heavily studied, but unclearly defined, area of homicide studies. This article examines the empirical studies in sexual homicide from the mid-1980s to 2008. A review of the literature focuses on definitions, general theoretical understanding, and typologies that have evolved over the years. Issues surrounding the study of sexual murderers, such as sadistic fantasy and developmental deficits, are addressed. A comparison of different types of sexual homicides through a synthesis of 32 published empirical studies is made. The article concludes with an analysis of these studies and discusses implications for practice, policy, and research.
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Borderline personality disorder is strongly represented amongst sexual serial killers.
“Borderline personality disorder is strongly represented amongst such killers (Chan and Heide, 2009).”
From A motivation model of sex addiction – Relevance to the controversy over the concept (2022) · cites this paper as Chan and Heide, 2009
Some features of sexual serial killing suggest an underlying addiction.
“Some features of sexual serial killing suggest an underlying addiction.”
From A motivation model of sex addiction – Relevance to the controversy over the concept (2022) · cites this paper as Chan and Heide, 2009
Cites
Briken, P., Habermann, N., Kafka, M. P., Berner, W., & Hill, A. (2006) · Journal of Forensic Sciences · doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2006.00105.x · Cited by 87 · cited 6× · see citing works
“Early onset of compulsive masturbation was one of a few common behavioral expressions of hypersexuality or the sexualization of relationships (Briken et al., 2006). Collection of pornography was another regularly stated example. In Langevin’s (2003) study, close to 40% of the sample of 33 sexual murderers collected po…”
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A motivation model of sex addiction – Relevance to the controversy over the concept
Toates, F. (2022) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104872 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
“Borderline personality disorder is strongly represented amongst such killers (Chan and Heide, 2009).”
BackgroundA framework for understanding sexual violence: Incentive-motivation and hierarchical control
Toates, F., Smid, W., & van den Berg, J. W. (2017) · Aggression and Violent Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.avb.2017.01.001 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
- Authors
- Chan, H.-C. (., & Heide, K. M.
- Affiliations
- University of South Florida (US)
- Venue
- Trauma, Violence, & Abuse
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2009-01
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 31-54
- ISSN
- 1524-8380 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-8324
- OpenAlex
- W2112356499
- Cited by
- 167
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 5.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Trauma Violence & Abuse (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
- Keywords
- sexual homicide, sexual murderers, developmental deficits, sexual violence
- MeSH terms
- Coercion, Criminal Psychology, Female, Forensic Psychiatry, Homicide, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Rape, Sex Offenses, Sexual Partners
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