Childhood maltreatment has the potential to induce both paraphilic behaviors and sexual deviance. The presence of adversity in childhood is said to be associated with sexual deviance and sexual violence, implying that early exposure to trauma may increase the likelihood of sexual and general self-regulation difficulties later in life. In this article I will discuss the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and the development of sexual deviance and paraphilic disorders across the lifespan of adult male sexual offenders. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Paraphilic behaviors can include frotteurism, voyeurism, exhibitionism, rape, sadism, and pedophilia (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition [DSM -5], 2014), which can be viewed as expressions of disorder in a common regulatory system. Apart from pedophilia and sadism, the latter disorders can be best explained through Freud's (1990) theory of courtship disorders. This theory consists of four normal phases of courtship: Phase 1 - Locating a partner, locating and evaluating a potential partner (voyeurism). Phase 2 - Protractile interactions, non-verbal interactions such as looking, smiling and talking to a potential partner (exhibitionism). Phase 3 - Tactile interactions, physical contact (frotteurism). Phase 4 - Copulatory interactions, sexual intercourse. Paraphilic disorders such as voyeurism, exhibitionism, frotteurism, and preferential rape patterns can be seen as distortions in each courtship phase, respectively. Pedophilia is not included in the courtship phases since this disorder is characterized by preferring children as targets for the implementation of paraphilic behaviors. Sadism is also not included in the courtship stages as this includes a preference for pain and humiliation to satisfy sexual desires. Both nature and nurture appear to have a relative impact on the development of sexual deviance and paraphilic behaviors throughout life. As far as nature is concerned, male sex hormones appear to be primarily responsible for the expression of sexual behaviors. The gonads and adrenal glands secrete male sex hormones called androgens, and testosterone has been found to be the most potent and abundant androgen in the male reproductive system. The pattern of sexual behavior is determined by the blood levels of the male sex hormone, testosterone. In addition to sexual performance, testosterone also helps maintain libido. Males with an early onset of androgen secretion are likely to develop an early interest in sexuality and erotic fantasies, which speaks to the role testosterone plays in the expression of sexual behaviors. In addition to testosterone, there appear to be other biological components involved in deviant sexual behavior. The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is believed to be involved in the regulation and control of sexual drives. Previous research supports the hypothesis that dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis plays an important role in the etiology of paraphilias. Furthermore, genes have also been noted to play a role in the etiology of paraphilias. Abnormal chromosome types such as mosaic and inversion chromosome patterns have been linked to the development of sexually deviant behaviors. These latter anomalies have been associated with various conditions including Klinefelter syndrome and Huntington's disease, and individuals with these conditions are known to exhibitparaphilic or have comorbid paraphilic disorders. No direct link has been found between a single chromosome or genetic locus regarding the development of psychiatric conditions, but the information above suggests the existence of a genetic vulnerability or predisposition towards sexual deviance. There are multiple components that contribute to the role education plays in the development of sexual deviance, including environmental variables, childhood experiences, how the child was raised, social relationships, and the surrounding culture. It appears that children may have a genetic vulnerability or predisposition towards sexual deviance and are exposed to sexually deviant behaviors in their environment, thus increasing the likelihood of engaging in such behaviors. This last notion can be explained by multiple theories including Bowblys' (1982) attachment theory, Eriksons' (1959) theory of psychosocial development, Marshalls' (2000) vulnerability model, Skinners' operant conditioning ( 1948) and Laws and O'Donohues. ' Deficits in developmental tasks (2008). First, attachment theory explains parent-child dynamics in relation to maladaptive behavioral patterns. Attachment style has been the focal point of the etiology of sexual offending. The latter can be divided into three distinct styles: avoidant, ambivalent and disorganized, where disorganized is the attachment style most frequently observed in children who have suffered abuse. Disorganized attachment is the result of children seeking protection from caregivers in times of distress; even if/when the caregiver is abusive. The unstable nature of disorganized attachment styles has the potential to characterize the relationship between the child and his or her parent. For example, previous research has found that sex offenders' relationships with their fathers were characterized by rejection and abandonment, while their relationships with their mothers seemed gentle but lacked clear boundaries. The latter is indicative of developmental risk and these arise as a result of exposure of parent-child relationships to abuse and/or neglect during Eriksons (1959) early stage of psychosocial development, trust versus mistrust. The developmental task of the trust vs distrust phase corresponds to the goal of achieving a sense of trust and security on the part of caregivers perceived through needs for affection and gratification, but if these needs are not satisfied, distorted cognitive schema, boundary violations, patterns of disorganized attachment Secondly, Marshalls' (2000) Vulnerability Model proposes the idea that insecure attachment styles create vulnerabilities (low self-esteem, poor coping skills, poor relationship styles) in children, resulting in the presentation of juvenile attitudes inappropriate. sexual behaviors. Inappropriate sexual behaviors can be seen as the individual's way of approaching sex; this limited coping ability can lead to impulsive and antisocial ways of meeting one's needs. Inappropriate sexual behaviors are said to increase through conditioning processes experienced through interactions with the environment. Behavior is voluntary and goal-directed, and is controlled by its consequences, such as rewards and punishments. The law of effect states that the positive outcome should increase the likelihood that the individual will engage in that behavior. For example, an individual who engages in inappropriate sexual behaviors such as frottage will eventually have an orgasm, and that orgasm represents positive reinforcement that causes an increase in that behavior. Third, the unsuccessful completion of.