Chemical castration periodically appears in discussions about the “treatment” of rapists, pedophiles, and sexual aggressors in general, almost every time such an act is presented by the mass media.
Chemical castration is in fact a treatment with chemical substances that has the effect of decreasing sexual desire until it disappears (as a joke: it is the modern version, revised and added, of the famous bromine that was administered in soldiers’ tea, in ancient times). It is thus assumed that the treatment will decrease the sexual desire of the aggressors and they will no longer be stimulated to repeat the sexual aggressions, that is, they will calm down…sexually.
Chemical castration is not a punishment in itself, but rather a complementary solution to “treat” the aggressor, along with the punishment itself, of deprivation of liberty.
This approach, used in several countries in the world, cannot yet be properly evaluated. The short duration of testing cannot yet provide solid (scientific) results in combating sexual aggression.
Beyond the difficulties related to administration and control after release, etc. they are essential points of view that are less (almost not) addressed.
In reality, an extremely small part of sexual aggressions is based on a sexual impulse, a clear sexual desire: this is the case of primitive aggressors, with a low IQ or mental retardation, possibly with personality disorders that include hallucinations. In their case, chemical treatment can achieve important results.
On the other hand, however, in the case of most of sexual aggressions (rape, pedophilia) but also of other sexual deviations, the sexual act is a secondary interest, and we are talking about major mental problems, up to psychopathy. In these cases, the basic impulse is not sexual but psychological: the desire for power over the victim, for control and domination. In these situations, chemical castration cannot bring about a change in mental functioning and will not extinguish the violent instincts of the aggressors.
There is another approach, very important. In the case of sexual assaults, a psychological profile of the aggressor must be made, a profile that traces the characteristics of personality and behavior. From this perspective, the aggressor with psychopathic tendencies or personality disorders (categories in which the vast majority of these aggressors are found) must be treated as such, and the punishment established should be accordingly. It is not by chance that we observe, in most cases, a recurrence of the act. The so-called “sex offenders” are a specific category, which indicates a specific personality and a specific behavior, of which the community in which the aggressor is released must know.
Consulting forensic psychologists (criminologists) in such situations is essential. There is not only one solution to the problem of rapists, pedophiles, and other sexual aggressors. It is a complex problem that requires a complex approach, in which the type and duration of the punishment play an essential role.
When we talk about a personality structure, we must understand that it is stable over time, which means that the behavior of the person in question will also remain unchanged over time. From this perspective, deprivation of liberty as a solution to protect society is only a temporary solution. She will not be able to change the aggressor’s behavior, in fact, most of the time, she will strengthen him. The risk of relapse in such cases is enormous, something proven by statistics from all over the world.
One last point of view: joining the terms: “rape/pedophilia” and “release for good behavior” seems to me an enormity worthy only of a justice that is not only “deaf, dumb and blind” but also idiotic.
