@article{ref1,
title="An application of the rational choice approach to the offending process of sex offenders: a closer look at the decision-making",
journal="Sexual abuse: a journal of research and treatment",
year="2007",
author="Beauregard, Eric and Leclerc, Benoit",
volume="19",
number="2",
pages="115-133",
abstract="Although the study of both offense processes and implicit theories provides in-depth knowledge about the decision-making of sex offenders, these studies focus solely on the internal psychological processes of the offender leading to the commission of a sexual assault. These studies neglect to look specifically at the offender's decision-making during the offense in interaction with the immediate situations encountered at the offense scene, such as the choices of behavior while interacting with the victim in a specific context. Based on a rational choice approach, this study investigates the decision-making involved in the offending process of 69 serial sexual offenders who have committed their crimes against stranger victims. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with offenders in order to identify the rationale behind their actions during the pre-crime phase (premeditation of the crime, estimation of risk of apprehension by the offender, and forensic awareness of the offender), crime phase (use of a weapon, use of restraints, use of a vehicle, and level of force used), and the post-crime phase (event leading to the end of crime and victim release site location choice). Results show that sex offenders, even if traditionally described as &quot;irrational&quot; and impulsive individuals, are capable, up to a certain point, of an analysis of the costs/benefits related to their actions. Moreover, results emphasize the important role of situational factors, such as victim resistance, on the decision-making process of sex offenders. Implications of the results are briefly discussed in regard of clinical practice and crime prevention.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1079-0632",
doi="10.1007/s11194-007-9043-6",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11194-007-9043-6"
}