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Sadistic Fantasy, Sadistic Behaviour and Offending

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

M. J. MacCulloch ,
P. R. Snowden ,
P. J. W. Wood  and
H. E. Mills
M. J. MacCulloch
Affiliation:
Park Lane Hospital, Maghull, Liverpool L31 1HW; Special Hospitals Research Unit, Park Lane Hospital, Maghull
P. R. Snowden
Affiliation:
Park Lane Hospital, Maghull, Liverpool L31 1HW
P. J. W. Wood
Affiliation:
Lynfield Mount Hospital, Bradford BD9 6DP
H. E. Mills
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Park Lane Hospital, Maghull, Liverpool L31 1HW
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Summary

This paper explores the genesis of sadistic behaviour in men and its relationship to crime. Sixteen male special hospital patients, each with a diagnosis of psychopathic disorder, formed the basis of this descriptive study. In only three cases were the crimes explicable in terms of external circumstances and personality traits. The offences of the remaining 13 cases became comprehensible only when the offender's internal circumstances were explored: investigation revealed repetitive sadistic masturbatory fantasies which had spilled over into overt behaviour because the patients had felt impelled to seek and create increasingly dangerous in vivo ‘try-outs' of their fantasies. The paper discusses the crucial link between sadistic fantasy and behaviour.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 143 , Issue 1 , July 1983 , pp. 20 - 29
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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