Violence and Sexual Compulsivity

Code:

PDSH11

Acronym:

VCS

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Psychology

Instance: 2022/2023 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	Doctoral Programme in Human Sexuality

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
PDSH	15	Plano de Estudos em vigor	1	-	3	14	81

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The curricular unit “Sexual violence and compulsivity” is aimed at teaching students about the main biopsychossocial conceptualizing and intervention models on sexual offending behavior, including different specific groups (e.g., adult and juvenile sexual offenders).

The topic of sexual compulsivity and its etiologic pathways will also be considered, along with the intersection with sexual violence.

Students will also learn about the different contexts, processes and dynamics of sexual victimization and about the impact of sexual violence in the risk of future sexual aggression.

The ongoing social and political strategies, aimed at preventing sexual violence, as also as the main intervention programs for sexual offenders, will also be presented and critically analysed.

Learning outcomes and competences

In the scope of this UC, students will be expected to:


- Identify and characterize different typologies of sexual aggressors, and the dynamics, processes and contexts of sexual aggression / victimisation.

- Understand the biopsychosocial factors involved in the phenomena of sexual violence and their practical implications.

- Understand and critically analyze of the etiological hypothesis of sexual compulsivity and its integration in the wider field of sexology, and also its possible relation with sexual violence.

- To know the main policies for the prevention of sexual violence and the existing intervention programmes with sexual aggressors/offenders, nationally and internationally.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

NA

Program

1. Sexual violence: definition and conceptual approaches; characterization, vulnerability factors and specific populations. Different types of crimes and of sex offenders and their implications for intervention. Specificities in the intervention with juvenile sexual offenders.

2. Sexual compulsivity: definition and conceptual approaches; implications on the dynamics behind sexual violence.

3. Sexual violence and pornography. Sexual cybercrimes and new forms of sexual criminality against children, namely, sexual grooming of minors and child pornography.

4. Sexual victimisation: contexts, dynamics and impact of sexual violence. From sexual victimisation to sexual aggression.

5. National and international psychological, psycho-educational and social interventions with sex offenders. Policies and strategies for the prevention of sexual violence / sexual crime.

Mandatory literature

Krivacska, J.J. ; The Handbook of Forensic Sexology (New Concepts in Human Sexuality). , Prometheus Books, 1994
Phenix. A., Hoberman, H.M. ; Sexual Offending: Predisposing Antecedents, Assessments and Management, New York: Springer, 2015
Braun-Harvey, D. ; Treating Out of Control Sexual Behavior: Rethinking Sex Addiction, New York, Springer, 2015
Reay, B., Attwood, N. ; Sex Addiction: A Critical History, Cambridge: Polity Press, 2015
Marshall, W. L., Marshall, L. E., G. A. Serran, & Fernandez, Y. M. (2006).; Treating sexual offenders: An integrated approach., New York: Taylor & Francis., 2006

Complementary Bibliography

Marshall, W. L., Marshall, L. E., Serran, G. A. & O’Brien, M. D.; Rehabilitating sexual offenders: A strengths based approach., Washington, DC: American Psychological Association., 2011
Mancini, C. ; Sex Crime, Offenders, and Society: A Critical Look at Sexual Offending and Policy, Carolina Academic Press, 2013

Teaching methods and learning activities

Expositive method, promoting the development of updated knowledge on the subject areas in study; Reading and critical discussion of scientific articles; Analysis of videos about sexual violence and intervention with sex offenders; Presentation and analysis of practical cases related to sexual violence.

keywords

Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	20,00
Trabalho escrito	80,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	20,00
Frequência das aulas	14,00
Trabalho de investigação	20,00
Trabalho escrito	27,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

- Students’ attendance in each class will be monitored. Students must attend 75% of the total number of classes taught. 

- Besides class attendance and participation in the classes, to pass this course, students must complete the proposed assignment (specified below).

- According to the evaluation regulations, students must obtain a minimum grade of 9.5 values, in order to pass. 

Calculation formula of final grade

Final grade expressed on a scale of 0 to 20:

- 80% of the final grade results from an individual written work about one of the topics / subjects taught in this UC - an updated scientific review, accompanied by a critical reflection based on the scientific knowledge produced about that subject is expected.

- 20% of the final grade results from class attendance and participation.

FINAL GRADE = (written work*0,80 + participation in the classes*0,20)

According to the evaluation regulations, students must obtain a minimum grade of 9.5 values, in order to pass. Failure to obtain the minimum grade implies and obligation to repeat the assessment. 

Examinations or Special Assignments

NA

Internship work/project

NA

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

NA

Classification improvement

Students may improve the final grade during the appeal season (for that they should develop a new written work).

Observations

NA