Brittain's Sadistic Murderer Syndrome reconsidered: an associative account of the aetiology of sadistic sexual fantasy

Authors: MacCulloch M.1; Gray N.2; Watt A.3

Source: Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, Volume 11, Number 2, 1 September 2000 , pp. 401-418(18)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

The ground-breaking work of Brittain (1970) provided the template for subsequent investigations of the aetiology, development and careers of sadistic murderers. The current article revisits some of the key observations that Brittain made, reviews briefly some of the empirical/theoretical developments that followed and offers an associative account of how sadistic fantasy may be initiated. We conclude by calling on clinicians working with sadists to apply the single case-study to collect sufficient information so that models of the aetiology of this population may be refined.

Keywords: MULTIPLE; MURDER; SADISM; FANTASY; CONDITIONING; SENSORY; PRECONDITIONING

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Professor of Forensic Psychiatry, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park Hospital, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF4 4XN; Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist, South Wales Forensic Psychiatric Service, Ca 2: Clinical Psychologist, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park Hospital, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF4 4XN; South Wales Forensic Psychiatric Service, Caswell Clinic, Glanrhyd Hospital, Bridgend, Mi 3: Experimental Psychologist, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park Hospital, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF4 4XN; South Wales Forensic Psychiatric Service, Caswell Clinic, Glanrhyd Hospital, Bridgend

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