Sexual Murder: Catathymic and Compulsive Homicides

Sexual Murder: Catathymic and Compulsive Homicides by Louis B. Schlesinger is a seminal forensic psychology text that examines the psychological motivations behind sexually motivated homicide.
The book introduces and clearly differentiates two primary types of sexual murder:
Catathymic homicides, which arise from long-standing emotional conflicts, fantasies, and internal stressors that build over time and culminate in a violent act.
Compulsive homicides, which are driven by repetitive, ritualistic urges and are often associated with paraphilic disorders and serial offending.
Drawing on detailed case studies, clinical assessments, and criminal investigations, Schlesinger explores the developmental, cognitive, and emotional processes that lead offenders to commit sexual homicide. He examines fantasy formation, personality pathology, trauma, and the escalation from deviant thoughts to lethal behavior.
Widely used in forensic psychology, criminology, and criminal justice programs, Sexual M