Implications of sexual fantasy characteristics and memory intensity for harmful sexual behaviour.
Saved in:
| Title: | Implications of sexual fantasy characteristics and memory intensity for harmful sexual behaviour. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Allen, Andrew (AUTHOR), Katsikitis, Mary (AUTHOR), Millear, Prudence (AUTHOR), McKillop, Nadine (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Criminal Behaviour & Mental Health. Oct2023, Vol. 33 Issue 5, p317-329. 13p. 4 Charts. |
| Subjects: | Sexual fantasies, Human sexuality, Masturbation, Child sexual abuse, Mental imagery, Autobiographical memory, Memory |
| Abstract: | Background: Sexual fantasies and memories are aetiological considerations in the perpetration of sexual violence, but fantasy–memory–behaviour relationships may be influenced by various factors, including sexual fantasy and memory phenomenology, that are the properties of mental imagery. Aims: To investigate differences in sexual fantasy phenomenology and sexual memory intensity in men who report a history of harmful sexual behaviour compared to those who do not. We also investigated whether the likelihood of reporting harmful sexual intent was related to sexual memory intensity, independently of age and harmful sexual behaviour history. Methods: An online cross‐sectional survey design was used, focusing on men aged ≥18 years who were recruited from the general population via social media. The survey prompted participants to envisage a favoured sexual fantasy, then obtained data on fantasy phenomenology, including vividness and sensations, and arousal level. In addition, information was requested about sexual memory intensity and harmful sexual behaviour history and intent. Results: A total of 322 men completed the survey. Multiple Welch's t‐tests showed that men self‐reporting one or more harmful sexual behaviours, such as rape or child sexual abuse, gave significantly higher ratings of sexual fantasy phenomenology but not fantasy frequency or masturbation. They were also more likely to report higher sexual memory intensity. Although the significance of fantasy phenomenology varied between subgroups, binary logistic regression indicated that age, history of harmful sexual behaviour and sexual memory intensity were each independently associated with harmful sexual intent. Conclusions: Our findings provide new insights into the importance of fantasy phenomenology, demonstrating nuanced differences between those with and without a history of harmful sexual behaviour and illustrating that memory intensity is associated with harmful sexual behaviour intent. Further research into these differences in the context of assessment and intervention for sexual violence perpetration is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Criminal Behaviour & Mental Health is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
Be the first to leave a comment!
