Choose: Just as a guess or logical thought process, I would think that most, if not all, sex offenders are also sex addicts. But, not all sex addicts are sex offenders. The difference I think is in the illegality of the sexual fetish or act committed. I'm not educated enough on that subject matter to know the differences other than the illegality of the action. Charli probably would be an excellent source for that info.

But I have read here and elsewhere that sexual addiction is progressive and that over time the addict feels the need to get into more shocking, formerly unacceptable, viewing and behavior. So, it seems from a layman's view that if continued there is a strong possibility of advancing into illegal behaviors...although that isn't a surity...just a possibility.

As far as I know, based on everything I've read and heard, there is no difference between a Stage 1, Stage 2, and a Stage 3 sex addict. There are no attitudes, characteristics, or traits that separate one from another. Any sex addict, given enough time in their addiction, can move from a Stage 1 addict to a Stage 3 addict. Of course, it can also work the other way, the can go from a Stage 3 addict to a Stage 1 addict. When this happens, however, the Stage 1 behaviors are added to increase the "high" of the Stage 3 behaviors. And don't forget, any addict can go from any one of these Stages directly into sexual anorexia. And in time, they can move out of the sexual anorexia back into their active addiction. Confusing, isn't it? But that's the way it works.

Maybe part of the problem you're having is that you're assuming that every sex offender is also a sex addict. That is DEFINITELY NOT the case. The last numbers I saw indicated that only about 10% to 12% of all sex addicts are sex offenders. Let me see if I can explain how this all works.

When you talk about sex offenders, you're basically talking about two groups of people: child molesters and rapists. Now there are three main types of child molesters. The FIXATED molester is the person who has always been attracted to children and always will be. They are the hard-core pedophiles. There is some research evidence that suggests that these people were actually exposed to too much of one hormone or other while in utero at critical times when various parts of their sexual response system were being laid down. Therefore, it is thought that they might actually be suffering from what might be considered a birth defect. There is currently no proof for this thesis, nor any real scientific evidence to support it, but it is an idea that's being investigated. And of course, whether it's true or not, it would in no way ever excuse the behavior. By the way, these folks, the FIXATED pedophiles, are very rarely sexually addicted, or so the research I've read says.

The second group consists of what are called the REGRESSED molesters. These are people who are normally heterosexual and not attracted to children, but in times of great stress (death of a spouse, loss of a job, surviving some natural disaster, etc.), they turn to a child to comfort them, or to be comforted by them. Things get out of hand and something sexual happens. These are the folks who are supposed to be most likely to be sexually addicted.

The third group is a new one, recently added to the mix. These folks are called CROSSOVER molesters. In actuality, they are FIXATED pedophiles who look for and marry someone who has kids of the age and sex they prefer to molest. Few of these folks are supposed to be sexual addicted.

One interesting thing they've found out about a lot of molesters. They tend to have a certain type of victim in mind when they are looking for someone to molest, someone of a particular age and sex. This is because they tend to molest kids who are either about the age they were when they were molested, or that they look for someone who is the age they were when they were molested, and the sex of their molester. This is supposed to be more true of the REGRESSED molester than of the others.

Rapists are a totally different group of people. It is fairly rare for a rapist to be sexually addicted, or so I've been told. Rape is not really about sex. It's about power, control, manipulation, and humiliation of the victim. By doing this, the rapist feels he is able to control at least something or someone. He is no longer powerless or impotent.

PLEASE NOTE: This was not my field of study, so I really don't have any expertise in these matters. The information I've shared here is several years old, so research may have proven some, or all of this wrong by now. But this is the way it was presented to me several years ago.

If you are interested in learning more about sexual addiction and sex offending, I'd suggest you try Googling the name Geral Blanchard, M.A. This guy works in the Wyoming prison system and he's put together a fantastic program for the sexually addicted sex offenders in that state.

Charlie, I concur and have read most of what you relayed. The distinction between the different types is interesting. I also seem to hear that the sex offender population is not very commonly sex addicts. I guess that assumption comes from people who are disturbed by the process. It is also not hard to believe that a wife would easily make that assumption in the face of such great pain.

The reason I ask is in response to some misinformation I was given and needed to formulate a response.

Thanks Charlie.

You very welcome, good buddy!

HI,
MY THOUGHT ON THE MATTER IS THE DIFF IS A ADDICT HAS NOT PREFORMED A ACT THAT IS UNLAWFULL. AND A OFFENDER HAS