ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the more commonly encountered actions of sexual sadists and differentiates sexual sadism from other cruel acts. It also describes the common characteristics of sexually sadistic crimes and offers investigators suggestions that they should follow when confronted with the crimes of the sexually sadistic offender. Sexual sadism is a persistent pattern of becoming sexually excited in response to another’s suffering. Specific findings uncovered during an investigation determine if the crime committed involves sexual sadism. The critical issues are whether the victim suffered, whether the suffering was intentionally elicited, and whether the suffering sexually aroused the offender. The behavior of sexual sadists, like that of other sexual deviants, extends along a wide spectrum. Sexual sadists can be law-abiding citizens who fantasize but do not act as well as individuals who fulfill these fantasies with freely consenting partners. Persons usually exhibit cruel, demeaning, and aggressive behavior in both social and work situations, most often toward subordinates.
