This essay will discuss and conclude whether it is possible to predict the behavior of a sexual murderer. While there are no foolproof methods or signs that can definitively tell who might be or become a sexual murderer, there are some characteristics and behaviors that might display during adolescence such as killing animals and the presence/signs of sexual sadism . , which could foreshadow future behavior and offenses. Considering other factors such as childhood experiences or childhood treatments such as abuse or neglect can also help predict whether an individual might be at risk of committing sexual homicide or shed light on the factors that contributed to those decisions who have already committed sexual homicide. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayIn a study conducted by Langevin, it was suggested that sexual murderers begin their careers at a young age. Torture, killing, or cruelty to animals in childhood is often seen as common behavior exhibited by those who have committed sexual homicide in adulthood. It is known that those who commit animal abuse during adolescence are at greater risk of committing violence towards other people in their lives such as; colleagues, loved ones, friends or elderly family members. Cases of serial killers and other murderers suggest that many of them were cruel or violent towards animals during their childhood. Two murderers who committed sexual murders include Jeffrey Dahmer and Theodore Bundy. Both individuals had a strong history of perpetrating violence against animals during their adolescence. This shift from violence against animals to violence and murder of humans is called the Graduation Theory/Hypothesis. According to this theory, animal cruelty could be a way for them to experience human-directed violence when they grow up. In a study conducted by Ressler et al., in which the characteristics of 36 sexual murderers were examined, it was found that 36% had perpetrated crimes against animals. cruelty during childhood, 46% were cruel to animals as a teenager, and 36% admitted to continuing to behave violently towards animals as adults. By examining this significant relationship between animal cruelty or abuse in childhood years and human violence and murder in adulthood, it is easy to see that there appears to be a correlation between the two. The paraphilia most often associated with sexual homicide is that of sexual sadism. . Sexual sadism is a “paraphilia that focuses on sexual arousal toward fantasies, impulses, or acts aimed at 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 therefore they try to achieve this by committing sexual murder. Although sexual sadism is often associated with sexual homicides, sometimes the signs of sexual sadism may not be as easily identifiable in adolescents as they would be in adults, because this paraphilia is still developing in the individual. Adults who exhibit behaviors that reflect sexual sadism are more likely to act out these feelings and perhaps commit sexual homicide than those who have more "normal" sexuality/do not have these feelings of arousal to inflict pain on others. In the teenage years, the behaviors become more subtle.