PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - RI Lanyon
TI  - Scientific status of the concept of continuing emotional propensity for sexually aberrant acts
DP  - 1997 Mar 01
TA  - Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
PG  - 59--67
VI  - 25
IP  - 1
4099  - http://jaapl.org/content/25/1/59.short
4100  - http://jaapl.org/content/25/1/59.full
SO  - J Am Acad Psychiatry Law1997 Mar 01; 25
AB  - Continuing emotional propensity for sexually aberrant acts and similar concepts have a central role in the prosecution of sex offenders. This article examines the theoretical and scientific viability of such concepts, focusing on child molestation. It is shown that neither theoretical nor scientific underpinnings exist, although there is broad clinical agreement on the existence in some offenders of "something more" than just a pattern of continuing behavior. Both the DSM-IV and addiction models of sex offending capture this viewpoint, and it is suggested that clinical/forensic assessment for the presence of a continuing emotional propensity rely on these sources until a scientific foundation can be laid.