VARIETIES OF SEX OFFENDERS VS. CHILDREN: AMORAL DELINQUENTS
Amoral delinquents are persons known by various names such as “psychopaths,” “sociopaths,” “sociotics,” etc., who function essentially without regard to the controls society imposes and who do not have a conscience in the usual sense. When sexually aroused they are apt to employ any convenient human or animal for gratification. A few use children and hence appear, although rarely, among the men convicted for offenses vs. children. On the basis of very few cases it appears that such men are not apt to repeat the offense behavior: it is typically a one-time impulsive act. Deprivation and inferiority feelings are usually absent.
An illustrative case is that of a man of thirty-eight with dull to normal intelligence. His history was one of unskilled labor interlaced with gambling and bootlegging. At the time of the offense he was living with his third wife. He planned to go on a trip, and his wife invited an eleven-year-old girl to stay with her for company during his absence. However, he changed his mind and remained at home, where he and his wife had a drinking party and gave alcohol to the child. All three went to bed and the husband had coitus with the girl while the wife held her. He had had no prior interest in girls of this age; the act was simply one of amoral opportunism without any feeling of wrongdoing.
*39\161\2*
