Sexual Murder: Catathymic and Compulsive Homicides is the culmination of the author's 45 years of experience with, and studying, sexually motivated homicide. Sexual murders are generally of two types - catathymic and compulsive. Catathymic homicides are caused by a breakthrough of underlying sexual conflicts. They can be unplanned, explosive (acute) attacks or planned murders stemming from a chronic obsession with, or disturbed attachment to, the victim. In compulsive homicides, a fusion of sex and aggression results in a powerful internal drive which pushes the offender to seek out victims to kill - and the killing itself is sexually gratifying. These murders also may be planned or unplanned. In compulsive homicides that are unplanned, the urge breaks through and disrupts the offender's controls when a victim of opportunity crosses his path. The compulsive offender who plans his crimes often eludes law enforcement, and as a result he can have multiple (serial) victims over extended periods of time. Both forms of sexual murder - the catathymic and the compulsive - are presented in this volume from a clinical-descriptive perspective encompassing case studies with analysis. Recent advances in empirical research in sexual murder-including findings from the joint research project between John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit in Quantico-has published many important studies. These include such topics as necrophilia, foreign object insertions in sexual homicide, ritual and signature and temporal patterns in serial sexual homicide, mass murder, crime scene staging in homicide, and undoing (symbolic reversal) at homicide scenes. All such research will be included and incorporate into this fully updated Second Edition, including approximately fifty new clinical case studies.

Although serial offenders have been a recognized problem in society for centuries, only recently have the complexities of these individuals come to light. Serial Offenders: Current Thought, Recent Findings presents current and inclusive information on serial offending in a clear and straightforward manner.

Citing numerous case examples, this book will provide forensic psychologists and psychologists, as well as criminologists, social workers and corrections officials with relevant and informative data.

Author Louis B. Schlesinger presents current thinking on serial offenders in the first of three parts contained in the text. In Part I, he covers serial homicide, child molestation, rape, arson, and the nonviolent serial offender, while offering new information and perspectives on these traditional problems.

Part II reverses thought, and takes a look at recent clinical and research findings. From profiling by law-enforcement and health-care workers to the neurobiological approach to understanding why people continually commit these crimes, Part II delves beyond right and wrong to illuminate and identify the many shades of gray.

Part III focuses on the unusual aspects of serial offending and on special populations of offenders. From infantophilia to serial offending by females, adolescents and members of the clergy, Schlesinger provides insight into a world that few have witnessed in such a comprehensive manner.

Although serial offenders have been a recognized problem in society for centuries, only recently have the complexities of these individuals come to light. Serial Offenders: Current Thought, Recent Findings presents current and inclusive information on serial offending in a clear and straightforward manner. Citing numerous case examples, this book will provide forensic psychologists and psychologists, as well as criminologists, social workers and corrections officials with relevant and informative data. Author Louis B. Schlesinger presents current thinking on serial offenders in the first of three parts contained in the text. In Part I, he covers serial homicide, child molestation, rape, arson, and the nonviolent serial offender, while offering new information and perspectives on these traditional problems. Part II reverses thought, and takes a look at recent clinical and research findings. From profiling by law-enforcement and health-care workers to the neurobiological approach to understanding why people continually commit these crimes, Part II delves beyond right and wrong to illuminate and identify the many shades of gray. Part III focuses on the unusual aspects of serial offending and on special populations of offenders. From infantophilia to serial offending by females, adolescents and members of the clergy, Schlesinger provides insight into a world that few have witnessed in such a comprehensive manner.