Sexual Abusers and their Victims

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses different occurrences of the sexual abuse of children. Looking at different cases and interviews on film, the writer analyzes the behavior of various abusers. The writer maintains that according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which classifies and describes mental disorders, pedophilia is a behavior that is associated with loners and low self-esteem. The writer concludes that these people are not from some other planet, but that society has produced them. The writer argues that now society must learn to deal with such abusers in a way that truly protects the children.

From the Paper:

"In the film 'Monsters Among Us', two incarcerated sex offenders are interviewed and they talk about their own childhoods and their difficult-to-control sexual impulses. Westley Dodd and Joel, for example, developed pedophile disorders early during the teenage years. Joel described being beaten by his stepfather on a regular basis. Physically abused boys often grow up to be aggressive, particularly toward women. Hurting women is a way to control them. Boys who are physically and sexually abused may grow up to be sadistic pedophiles like Joel. Joel's appointed psychologist said he is likely to commit predatory sex offences in the future. Imprisonment is not going to solve his problem. Those sex offenders who get out of jail say that the urge to rape is still with them and still difficult to control."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bickley, J. A. and Beech, A. R. (2002). An investigation of the Ward and Hudson pathways model of the sexual offense process with child abusers. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17 (4), Apr., 371-393.Crime library web site. Retrieved 15 April, 2007 from http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/predators/dodd/children_6.html
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) (1994). Retrieved 22 April 2007 from http://psyweb.com/Mdisord/DSM_IV/jsp/dsm_iv.jsp
• Electra complex web site. Retrieved 23 April 2007 from http://core.ecu.edu/soci/juskaa/SOC12110/Lectures/socialization/tsld016.htm
• Krugman, S. (1987). Trauma in the family: Perspectives on the intergenerational transmission of violence. In Psychological Trauma, B. Van der Kolk (Ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press. Retrieved 20 April 2007 from http://www.clinicalsocialwork.com/wystems.html.
• Medrano, M. A., Hatch, J. P., Zule, W. A. and Desmond, D. P. (2003). Childhood trauma and adult prostitution behavior in a multiethnic heterosexual drug-using population. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 29 (2), 463-487.

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