ABSTRACT
Although the men in this series were serious criminals, it is important to rec ognize that sexual sadists, like other paraphiles, do not necessarily engage in any actions in fulfillment of the paraphilia.6 Indeed, it is possible that a majority of sexual sadists never engage in a sexually sadistic act, much less a crime. Among those who act on their fantasies, there are those who limit their actions to law ful behaviors with consenting partners or to behaviors with paid partners. In some cases, however, the sexual sadist does not content himself with lawful or quasi-lawful adaptations, but rather in dulges himself at the expense of unwill ing partners.7 It is this latter group of sexually sadistic offenders that poses the greatest problem for society.
