Paper Title
Paraphilias and Sexual Delinquency: Neurobiological and Neuropsychological Aspects
Keywords
- Neurobiology
- Neuropsychology
- Endocrinology
- Paraphilic Disorders
- Sex Offenders
- Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis
- Testosterone
- Aggression
- Dominant Behavior
- Serotonin Dysregulation
- Frontal Cerebral Dysfunction
- Temporal Cerebral Dysfunction
- Neurological Diseases
- Disinhibition
- Small Sample Size
- Diagnostic Accuracy
- Handedness
- Intelligence
- Sexual Orientation
- Etiology of Paraphilias
- Sexual Delinquency
Article Type
Research Article
Journal
Research Impact Tools
Publication Info
Volume: 19 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 295-314
Published On
December, 2006
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Abstract
The authors provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on neurobiological, neuropsychological and endocrinological findings in paraphilic men and sex offenders. With regard to hormonal control circuits, there is evidence of dysregulation in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in these groups. Elevated testosterone levels may be significant in terms of an increased general tendency towards aggression and an increased tendency towards dominant social behavior styles. Despite many hypothetical assumptions, there are hardly any specific studies on abnormalities in serotonin metabolism in paraphilic men or sex offenders. Other studies provide evidence of frontal and temporal cerebral dysfunctions. Sexual abnormalities in the context of neurological diseases can be interpreted as a result of (non-specific) disinhibition. A problem with many studies is small case numbers and inaccurate diagnostic descriptions of the samples. Factors such as handedness, intelligence and sexual orientation are often not taken into account. The classification of previous results into theoretical models on the etiology of paraphilias/sexual delinquency should therefore be done critically and with caution.
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