Psychological and Criminological Characteristics of Adults Convicted of Sexual Crimes: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Sexual aggressor; Forensic profiling; Functional connectivity; Dynamic risk; Systematic review.
Authors:AbstractThe forensic profiling of the sexual aggressor has undergone a profound conceptual metamorphosis, moving from rigid diagnostic typologies to dimensional models based on biopsychosocial evidence. In order to update this construct, the high-impact international scientific production published between 2021 and 2026 was critically analyzed. Under the PRISMA guidelines and the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute, a systematic review was carried out in databases such as Scopus and Web of Science, selecting a definitive corpus of fifteen original studies that passed strict quality controls. Functional neuroimaging evidence confirms that criminal persistence is linked to behavioral and antisocial dysregulation, associated with a functional disconnection between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. At the same time, the virtual environment has instituted the cyberaggressor as an independent clinical entity, characterized by an emotional congruence with minor and severe relational deficits, refuting the classic theories of linear escalation towards physical violence. In the actuarial field, dynamic factors demonstrated an incremental predictive validity superior to traditional static approaches. These findings suggest that judicial risk management and effective social reintegration depend on a methodological restructuring that replaces fixed opinions with periodic dynamic expert reports and programs that integrate Risk, Need, and Responsiveness models.
Received-19-05-2026 Revised-23-06-2026 Accepted-27-06-2026
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ejprd.org - Published by Riset Publication Services LLC
EJPRD
Copyright ©2026 by RisetPublicationServicesLLC