This essay will discuss and conclude whether it is possible to predict the behavior of a sexual murderer. Although there is no surefire way or sign to tell with certainty who may be or become a sexual murderer, certain characteristics and behaviors may be exhibited during adolescence, such as killing animals and presence/signs of sexual sadism. , which could foreshadow future behavior and offenses. Examining other factors such as childhood experiences or treatment during childhood, such as abuse or neglect, can also help predict whether an individual is at risk of committing sexual homicide or shed more light the factors that contributed to the decisions of those who have previously committed sexual homicide. sexual homicide. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay In a study conducted by Langevin, it was suggested that sexual murderers begin their careers at a young age. Torture, murder, or cruelty to animals during childhood is often considered common behavior among those who have committed sexual homicide as adults. It is known that those who abuse animals during their adolescence are at increased risk of committing violence against other people in their lives, such as: peers, relatives, friends or elderly family members. Case histories of serial killers and other murderers suggest that many were cruel or violent to animals as children. Two murderers who committed sexual homicides include Jeffrey Dahmer and Theodore Bundy. Both individuals had extensive histories of violence toward animals during their teenage years. This shift from violence against animals to violence and killing of humans is called the graduation theory/hypothesis. According to this theory, animal cruelty could be a form of repetition of human-directed violence when older. In a study conducted by Ressler et al., in which 36 characteristics of sexual murderers were examined, it was found that 36% of them had committed crimes against animals. cruelty as a child, 46% were cruel to animals as a teenager, and 36% admitted to continuing to be violent toward animals as adults. Looking at this significant relationship between cruelty or abuse to animals in childhood and violence and murder of humans in adulthood, it is easy to see that there appears to be a correlation between the two. The paraphilia most often associated with sexual murder is that of sexual sadism. . Sexual sadism is a “paraphilia that focuses on sexual arousal to fantasies, urges, or acts of inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on another human being.” In the case of a sexual murderer, one of the main motivations is said to be the pursuit of sadistic pleasure and so he tries to achieve this by committing sexual homicide. Although sexual sadism is most commonly associated with sexual murder, sometimes the signs of sexual sadism are not as easily identifiable in adolescents as in adults because this paraphilia is still developing in the individual. Adults exhibiting behaviors reflective of sexual sadism are more likely to act out these feelings and perhaps commit sexual homicide than those who have more "normal" sexuality/do not experience these feelings of arousal to inflict harm. pain to others. During adolescence,.