Pathways to Sexual Aggression

Most people who read an article in the newspaper about the brutal rape of a woman by a stranger, or the long-standing sexual abuse of a young boy by his step-father have a strong visceral reaction which is a mix of anger, fear, and incomprehension. Apart from these aversive reactions, several questions also come to people’s minds: Was this offender crazy or sexually obsessed? What is the purpose of such outrageous acts?

To answer these questions, the authors of this book review theoretical ...