Relational Patterns Associated With Sexual Sadism: A Study of 20 Wives and Girlfriends

Abstract

This study is derived from in-depth interviews with 20 wives or girlfriends of sexually sadistic males. The study was designed to explore the sexual preferences of sexually sadistic males in terms of their consensual sexual relationships and to examine the dynamics by which they introduce their partners into extreme and, at times, murderous forms of behavior. Previous research has demonstrated that although sexually sadistic criminals are often forthcoming about their criminal and murderous behavior, they become misleading and vague when describing the sexual fantasy and pattern of arousal that underlie these activities. The search for secondary sources of information, such as diaries, manuscripts, videos, and photographs, that might further illustrate these preferences and fantasies resulted in the interviews summarized in this paper. These women report early life experiences that were characterized by physical abuse and incestuous relationships within their families. However, they attained relatively stable and normal lifestyles before meeting and becoming involved with a sexually sadistic male. Once immersed in a relationship with these sadistic men, the lives of these women changed radically and, in some instances, they voluntarily entered into dangerous forms of sexuality and criminal behavior. In describing these experiences, the authors highlight the relational context of these behaviors in which the sadistic fantasy of the male becomes an organizing principal in the behavior of the woman. They also emphasize the importance of forensic evaluator and law enforcement pursuing this type of information when attempting to describe and understand the criminal behavior of a sexually sadistic offender.