Sexual Murder: Catathymic and Compulsive Homicides

by Louis B. Schlesinger

Forensic psychologist and author Louis B. Schlesinger delves deep into the minds of sexual murderers. It is a place where few dare to tread, but a necessary journey if we are to understand the motivations behind their inconceivable actions. Culminating nearly 30 years of experience analyzing sexually motivated homicides, Sexual Murder: Catathymic and Compulsive Homicides makes this complex phenomenon fully comprehensible.

The author provides a strong foundation by first exploring the psychopathology of sexual homicide within the context of nonsexual homicide. He also discusses forensic assessment of the sexual murderer, theories of crime, and systems of homicide classification. The remaining chapters explore the two types of sexual murders: catathymic, caused by a breakthrough of underlying sexual conflicts, and compulsive, in which a fusion of sex and aggression results in a powerful internal drive that pushes the offender to seek out victims to kill - and the killing itself is sexually gratifying. Presenting both forms of sexual murder from a clinical-descriptive perspective, the book provides historical background and examines both planned and unplanned homicides for each. Finally, it considers prediction, disposition, and possibilities for preventing sexual murder.

Providing a fresh approach to an old crime, Sexual Murder: Catathymic and Compulsive Homicides brings intriguing theories and detailed analyses to life. Through a variety of illustrative case examples from the author's vast experience, this amazing book will broaden your view of sexual murder and alter many preconceived ideas.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Psychology

416 pages, Hardcover

First published August 26, 2003

Reviews

[Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for a class, and I found it to be highly interesting.

It's not a light read, as one can guess by the title, however if you are interested in the study of forensic psychology - I recommend it.

[Skip Tracer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is rich in case studies and anecdotal examples which are analyzed effectively to illustrate sexual murder as a typology ranging from one time "catathymic" homicides to repeated compulsive killings. Additionally, the book chronicles historical and theory driven developments in the understanding of sexual homicide going as far back as folklore regarding man-like monsters who've killed local villagers to classic sociological and psychological theories of crime. However, Dr. Schlesinger is a psychoanalyst at heart and largely attributes the motivations (which is iffy to begin with) of such individuals to a pervasive psychosexual frustration, which can be tiresome for those who want less armchair psychoanalysis. Overall, an incredibly insightful read, but can be grueling at times given the nature of the content, so be prepared to read some things you might wish you hadn't.