A RORSCHACH INVESTIGATION OF SEXUAL HOMICIDE

A sample of incarcerated sexual homicide perpetrators (n = 18) were co mpared to a sample of non-sexually offending but violent male psychopa ths (n = 23) on select Rorschach variables using the Comprehensive Sys tem (Exner, 1991). Results suggest that sexual homicide perpetrators a re similar to psychopaths in their attachment abnormality, characterol ogical anger, pathological narcissism, moderate and pervasive formal t hought disorder, and borderline reality testing. They are distinguishe d, however, by a more frequent affectional hunger, a tendency to engag e in more dysphoric rumination, and abnormal elevations of nonvolition al ideation (obsessional thoughts) due to unmet instinctual need state s. They also show a greater interest in others as whole, real, and mea ningful objects. Five psychodynamic factors, supported by the empirica l findings, are proposed to partially explain the intrapsychic mechani sms involved in an act of sexual homicide.