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Paraphilic Sexual Interests and Sexually Coercive Behavior: A Population-Based Twin Study

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Abstract

Prior research with selected clinical and forensic samples suggests associations between paraphilic sexual interests (e.g., exhibitionism and sexual sadism) and sexually coercive behavior. However, no study to date used a large, representative and genetically informative population sample to address the potential causal nature of this association. We used self-report data on paraphilic and sexually coercive behavior from 5990 18- to 32-year-old male and female twins from a contemporary Finnish population cohort. Logistic regression and co-twin control models were employed to examine if paraphilic behaviors were causally related to coercive behavior or if suggested links were confounded by familial (genetic or common family environment) risk factors. Results indicated that associations between four out of five tested paraphilic behaviors (exhibitionism, masochism, sadism, and voyeurism, respectively) and sexually coercive behavior were moderate to strong. Transvestic fetishism was not independently associated with sexual coercion. Comparisons of twins reporting paraphilic behavior with their paraphilic behavior-discordant twin further suggested that associations were largely independent of shared genetic and environmental confounds, consistent with a causal association. In conclusion, similar to previously reported predictive effects of paraphilias on sexual crime recidivism, paraphilic behavior among young adults in the general population increases sexual offending risk. Further, early identification of paraphilic interest and preventive interventions with at-risk individuals might also reduce perpetration of first-time sexual violence.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Elena Baur

  2. Swedish Prison and Probation Service, R&D Unit, PO Box 12055, 102 22, Stockholm, Sweden

    Mats Forsman & Niklas Långström

  3. Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Mats Forsman & Niklas Långström

  4. Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland

    Pekka Santtila, Ada Johansson & Kenneth Sandnabba

  5. Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Ada Johansson

  6. LWL-Maßregelvollzugsklinik, Herne, Germany

    Elena Baur

Authors
  1. Elena Baur
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  2. Mats Forsman
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  3. Pekka Santtila
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  4. Ada Johansson
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  5. Kenneth Sandnabba
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  6. Niklas Långström
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mats Forsman.

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Baur, E., Forsman, M., Santtila, P. et al. Paraphilic Sexual Interests and Sexually Coercive Behavior: A Population-Based Twin Study. Arch Sex Behav 45, 1163–1172 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0674-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0674-2

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