Key Takeaways:
- Bestiality is a serious issue that affects individuals of all ages, with some cases involving sex with animals and others involving the possession or distribution of bestiality material.
- Treatment for bestiality is available and can be effective, with a focus on addressing underlying issues such as boredom, frustration, and lack of emotional intimacy.
- The internet has increased access to bestiality material, making it easier for individuals to engage in this behavior and for law enforcement to detect it.
- Clinically, bestiality is treated similarly to pedophilia, with a focus on identifying and addressing underlying factors that contribute to the problem.
- Successful treatment can help individuals to stop engaging in offending behavior and to lead happier, more fulfilling lives.
Introduction to Bestiality Treatment
Auckland forensic psychologist Dr. David Jones has worked with sex offenders, including those who have engaged in bestiality, for over 15 years. He believes that everyone deserves help and that treatment can be effective in addressing this complex issue. Jones has worked with patients ranging in age from 18 to 70 and has found that 10 to 20 therapy sessions can be helpful in addressing the underlying issues that contribute to bestiality. He notes that sex offenders, including those who engage in bestiality, have some of the highest success rates and lowest reoffending rates in prisons.
The Law and Bestiality
There are three laws in New Zealand that deal with bestiality: the Crimes Act 1961, the Customs and Excise Act 1996, and the Films, Videos and Publications Classifications Act 1993. Actual sex with an animal is punishable by up to seven years in prison, while the importation of indecent or obscene items, including bestiality material, is also prohibited. The creation, possession, and distribution of bestiality material are also illegal, regardless of whether it features real animals or is animated, cartoon, or computer-generated. Despite these laws, prosecutions for bestiality are not common, as it is often difficult to detect and prosecute.
The Prevalence of Bestiality
According to the Ministry of Justice, 14 people have been charged with bestiality in New Zealand over the past 10 years. While this number may seem low, it is likely that many cases of bestiality go unreported. Customs has seized over 5,500 bestiality files this year, and the Department of Internal Affairs has reported an increase in the detection of bestiality content online. This increase is likely due to the accessibility of the internet and the ease with which individuals can access and share bestiality material.
Understanding the Psychology of Bestiality
Dr. Jones notes that individuals who engage in bestiality often do so as a result of underlying issues such as boredom, frustration, and lack of emotional intimacy. He describes a "satiation curve" where individuals need more stimulation to achieve the same effect, leading them to seek out more extreme or taboo material. This can include bestiality, as well as other forms of objectionable content such as child sex abuse material or violent videos. Jones emphasizes the importance of addressing these underlying issues in treatment, rather than simply focusing on the behavior itself.
Treatment for Bestiality
Clinically, bestiality is treated in a similar way to pedophilia, with a focus on identifying and addressing the underlying factors that contribute to the problem. This can include working on relationships, emotional regulation, and depression, as well as teaching individuals to masturbate to more appropriate material and increase their arousal to healthy sexual interests. The goal of treatment is not simply to stop the offending behavior, but to help individuals lead happier, more fulfilling lives. As Dr. Jones notes, "you want someone who’s happy in their life," rather than simply an individual who is no longer offending.
The Importance of Addressing Underlying Issues
Dr. Jones emphasizes the importance of addressing the underlying issues that contribute to bestiality, rather than simply focusing on the behavior itself. This can involve exploring an individual’s childhood and identifying any experiences of abandonment, loneliness, or alienation that may have contributed to their behavior. By addressing these underlying issues, individuals can develop healthier relationships and a more positive sense of self, reducing the likelihood of reoffending. As Dr. Jones notes, "go and look at their childhoods – you’ll find abandonment, loneliness, alienation, relationship problems. Every case is slightly different."
