The forensic division of the UBC Sexual Pyschophysiology and Psychoneuroendocrinology Laboratory is the newest addition to the laboratory and is still in its initial stages of development. The focus of this area is research on illegal sexual behaviors including soliciting sex from prostitutes as well as more serious sexual offences such as pedophilia, sexual assault, and incest.
Because this research is still in its infancy, the majority of the research to date has been focused on men who have been arrested for soliciting the sexual services of prostituted women. This research is conducted in conjunction with the John Howard Society of the Lower Mainland and involves administering self-report questionnaires to men who are attending the Prostitution Offender Program of British Columbia – a one-day diversion program for men who have been arrested for soliciting the sexual services of a prostitute. Questionnaires are designed to assess sexual attitudes, experiences, and behaviours as well as the impact of the Prostitution Offender Program on changing attitudes towards the sex trade industry.
This research has resulted in numerous conference presentations and police reports for the Vancouver Police Department, as well as a peer-reviewed paper on the extent to which the Prostitution Offender Program leads to changes in attitudes towards prostitution and prostituted women in its participants. Further papers stemming from the research are currently in progress and further data collection with new questionnaires is being conducted.
Currently, the laboratory is in the process of expanding its research to understanding and investigating the nature, causes, and treatments of various other sexual behaviours in men who have been convicted of sexual offences. As part of this expansion, the laboratory intends to acquire a penile plethysmograph, which, like the vaginal photoplethysmograph for women, can measure physiological sexual arousal in men. The penile plethysmograph is a mercury-in-rubber strain gauge that is placed around the base of the penis and measures minute changes in penile circumference. It is currently considered to be the most valid measure of sexual interests in men and is used extensively in correctional settings for diagnostic and treatment purposes with men who have been convicted of various sexual offenses.
Publications:
Kennedy, M.A., Klein, C., Gorzalka, B.B., & Yuille, J.C. (2005). Attitude change following a diversion program for men soliciting sex. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 40(1/2), 41-60.
Poster Presentations:
Ewasiw, J.F., Klein, C., Kennedy, M.A., Gorzalka, B.B., & Yuille, J.C. (2006, June). Cognitive dissonance in the solicitation of sexual services? Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Calgary, Alberta.
Ewasiw, J.F., Klein, C., Kennedy, M.A., Gorzalka, B.B., & Yuille, J.C. (2006, June). Characteristics of customers of street prostitutes. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, calgary, Alberta.
Ewasiw, J.F., Klein, C., Kennedy, M.A., Gorzalka, B.B., & Yuille, J.C. (2006, June). Purchasing sex: Factors that motivate men to start and stop going to prostitutes. Poster Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychology-Law Society, St. Petersburg, FL.
Dang, T., Lau, K . , Kennedy, M. A., Gorzalka, B. B., & Yuille, J. C. (2004, June). Socio-economic status and motivations of men soliciting street prostitution . Poster presented at the Canadian Psychological Association's Annual Convention, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Dang, T., Lau, K . , Kennedy, M. A., Gorzalka, B. B., & Yuille, J. C. (2004, June). Deterrents to street prostitution: Suggestions from consumers . Poster presented at the Canadian Psychological Association's Annual Convention, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Lau, K., Dang, T., Kennedy, M. A., Gorzalka, B. B., & Yuille, J. C. (June 2004). Men's motivations for soliciting prostituted women . Poster presented at the Canadian Psychological Association's Annual Convention, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Lau, K., Dang, T., Kennedy, M. A., Gorzalka, B. B., & Yuille, J. C. (June 2004). Social desirability in responses from prostitution sexual offenders . Poster presented at the Canadian Psychological Association's Annual Convention, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Lau, K., Kennedy, M. A., & Gorzalka, B. B. (August 2004). Cross-cultural definitions and explanations for the etiology of child maltreatment . Poster presented at the American Psychological Association's Annual Convention, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Klein, C., Kennedy, M. A., Gorzalka, B. B., Yuille, J. C. (2003, May). Attitude differences among experienced and inexperienced prostitution clients. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Kennedy, M. A., Bristow, J. T. K., & Klein, C. (2003, June). Pathways into prostitution in western Canada. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Hamilton, Ontario.
Kennedy, M. A., Klein, C., Gorzalka, B. B., & Yuille, J. C. (2003, August). Beliefs of consumers and nonconsumers of prostitution . Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Ontario.
Klein, C., Kennedy, M. A., Gorzalka, B. B., & Yuille, J. C. (2003, August). Rape myth acceptance among prostitution clients and a comparison group. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Ontario.
Klein, C., Kennedy, M. A., Gorzalka, B. B., & Yuille, J. C. (2002, May). The demographics of men arrested for soliciting prostitutes in Vancouver. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Klein, C., Kennedy, M. A., Gorzalka, B. B., & Yuille, J. C. (2002, August). Does the Vancouver Prostitution Offender Program change attitudes? Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Klein, C., Kennedy, M. A., Gorzalka, B. B., & Yuille, J. C. (2002, August). Sex trade consumers' attitudes toward sex and rape. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.