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Sexual murderers in everyday life

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  • James, Jonathan
  • Beauregard, Eric
  • Proulx, Jean

Abstract

The objective of this study was to develop a psychosocial profile of sexual murderers and characterize their life context at the moment they decided to commit homicide—in some cases, on repeated occasions. To this end, serial sexual murderers (SSMs, n = 33) and nonserial sexual murderers (NSMs, n = 87) were compared in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, general and sexual lifestyles, criminal behaviors, cognitions, stressful events, and motivation to commit sexual homicide. The results of this study indicate that sexual murderers are marginalized individuals who are dissatisfied with their lives and whose crimes are triggered by stressful events. However, unlike NSMs, SSMs have a psychosocial profile and the criminal skills that allow them to avoid arousing the suspicion of neighbors and police. Moreover, the sexual tension they experience daily motivates them to commit carefully planned crimes. Taken together, these characteristics partially explain why these individuals are more likely than NSMs to commit a series of sexual homicides. While sexual homicide is an extreme phenomenon, it is nevertheless primarily committed by individuals whose characteristics resemble those of individuals who commit less spectacular crimes. It is thus not surprising that psychological theories of sexual assault and criminological theories are suitable for the study of this phenomenon.

Suggested Citation

  • James, Jonathan & Beauregard, Eric & Proulx, Jean, 2019. "Sexual murderers in everyday life," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 64-73.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:60:y:2019:i:c:p:64-73
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2018.12.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shinichi Nakagawa, 2004. "A farewell to Bonferroni: the problems of low statistical power and publication bias," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 15(6), pages 1044-1045, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chai, April Miin Miin & Yaksic, Enzo & Chopin, Julien & Fortin, Francis & Hewitt, Ashley, 2022. "Time after time: Factors predicting murder series' duration," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    2. James, Jonathan & Higgs, Tamsin & Langevin, Stephanie, 2020. "Reactive and proactive aggression in sexual homicide offenders," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    3. Beauregard, Eric & Chopin, Julien, 2020. "The lesser of two evils? Sexual homicide as an “hybrid” offense," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    4. Gabriel Tanasescu, 2020. "Aggressive Behavior during COVID-19," ConScienS Conference Proceedings 008tg, Research Association for Interdisciplinary Studies.

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