Strategic behavior in adolescent sexual offenses against children: linking modus operandi to sexual behaviors.
In this paper, the modus operandi of 103 adolescents involved in sexual offenses against children (12 year old or less) is analyzed. Modus operandi strategies were measured by the participants' responses to the Modus Operandi Questionnaire. Findings indicate that the degree of intrusiveness of the sexual behaviors committed by the adolescents is contingent on the participation of their victims during the sexual episodes. Moreover, the more strategic adolescents may be more likely to secure compliance. This study shows the relevance of analyzing adolescent modus operandi as purposeful behavior and discusses some implications of the findings for crime-commission or offending process models.
Leclerc
Benoit
B
School of Criminology, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3C 3J7. benoit.leclerc4@sympatico.ca
Tremblay
Pierre
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D041923:Adolescent Development; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires