should be made to find out what is normal and what is abnormal Such should make it possible to define sex ollense and determine the mod:. 'cations needed in our existing laws A: present, there is no universal norm und there are many contrasting trends. For example, New York State recently reduced the penalty for one type of sex offenses-sodomy-from 10 years or more to 90 days. For the same offense, California increased the penalty :om 10 years to 20 years, and even life in some cases

But mere revision of laws is no. enough according to Dr Bowman Studies mus: be made of the sex oliencer numse: Facts have alread, been uncovered which upset some misconceptions. We tend to lump all sex offenders in a hardened criminal group But the greates! number of them are non aggressive inividuals such as "Peeping Tom. exhibitionists, or homosexuals. Even so, as a group, they have about as much in common as the patients in a hospital. We also tend to believe .hat sex offenders begin with minor crimes and gradually turn to more serious ones. This isn't so. The timid shy sex ollender would be les likely to engage in a physical attack than would a normal person Ar other fallacy is that sex criminals are a repetitive group: if they get away with one crime, they imme. diately begin planning the the nex This happens in a few spectacular and isolated cases. But statistics show that sex offenders are the secord least repetitives group police deal with Only murderers have a

over repeat rate

The study of Langley Porter Clinic centers on three major problems. sex crimes of violence, sex acts with small children, and homosexuality Dr Bowman agrees that in dividuals who commit sex crimes of violence must be separated from 22

Society Various treatments have been proposed ranging from surgery to hormones, brain operations, and sterilization. But experts do not agree on the value of any of these Dr Karl Menninger recently said. We psy. chiatrists know a lot about the de. scriptive side or sex perversion-hqw it happens and what goes on. But we have barely scratched the surface on the whys and wherefores of sex deviation We have got to learn a lot more before we are able to trea! large numbers successfully" It may be that future studies will uncover ways of treating, and even curing. such individuals. In any case, society for its own protection must conine the sex fiend.

Certainly, the sex offender who molests children must be put away An important fact has been found in some cases where a small child participates with a sex offender. cases in which there is no physical harm or violence The evidence indicates. D: Bowman said, that harm. ful effects to the small child are exaggerated so far as the actual sex act is concerned. But the child can be greatly harmed by the attitude of parents, friends, and rela lives. If they are too critical, if they overstress the shameful aspects, the child may receive a shock which will stay with him the rest of his life But if the child is handled propery with understanding, the mental shock may be reduced.

In general, Dr Bowman said it would be helpful if children were given an adequate sex' education. But a conspiracy of silence still seems to prevail Although most parents will discuss such things as murde; and stealing with their off-

ng. only a few discuss the socalled facts of life" with them. The child's interest is aroused but his sex education is neglected. In trying to satisfy his curiosity, he may get

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a distorted concept. Some people suggest that children might get a proper sex education at school. But Dr Bowman is not sure that this is practical. It is important, he said. that sex be discussed openly and frankly. But since there are a great many unmarried school teachers. there may be some embarrassment The ideal solution is for parents to take over this task. But parents, too, often become embarrassed and the child senses this. However, progress may be made as we take a more enlightened view of the entire sex problem

We also need a more enlightened attitude toward the homosexual. Society has a tendency to treat the homosexual today as the alcoholic was treated 20 years ago. For example, there's the case of a young man who was arrested for his first ollense as a homosexual. In prison

was locked up with all other sex offenders. Thus, Dr Bowman points out, he was placed in an atmosphere where his abnormal drives were bound to increase While this procedure fills up the jails it doesn't contribute any solution to the fundamental problem. It simply aggravates it.

As yet, science has found no cure for homosexuality Not even the cause is known. A recent report indicates that heredity is involved. If one single ovum twin is a homosexual, the other one is too. But this doesn't hold true for ordinary twins. Anatomical, and endocrine factors may also be involved since people who do not mature properly may become homosexuals. Some believe the problem is mainly psychological The orthodox psycho-ana-lytical theory developed by Freud is that homosexuality is a phase of sexual development. In some individuals the development is arrested or somethings happen to happen to cause a retro-

gression.

Possibly all three factors-hereditary, anatomical and psychological -are involved. This may be why it's difficult to find cures. Various treatments have been tried. For example male sex hormones have been givan male homosexuals and female np. mones to female homosexugi? But in many cases the hormones sim. ply increase the abnormcl drive Anna Freud, the daughter of ismund Freud, recently reported that three homosexuals respo. cod 10 psychoanalysis. Even so, i's conceded that the percentage of cures by this method is very low However, the psychiatrist can be of some help to the homosexual. While he can't promise a cure, he may be able to help the homosexual, who is unhappy and neurotic, to make a better adjustment.

As long as homosexuals exist, society is faced with the problem of what to do about them In some countries they are simply thrown in jail. In others, such as France and Scandinavia, homosexuality is legal as long as it involves two willing adults in privacy.

Which is the better solution? As with all sex crime problems, society must decide for itself the course it wishes to pursue. The opinions of scientists in this field may be helpful. Both Dr. Bowman and Dr. Kinsey have said that our sex laws are too generalized. They are designed to punish those who engage in any sexual practice which might be considered/abnormal. But since we have no absolute normal standards, the laws cannot be specific.

A more practical solution, they say, is to judge sex offenses on the grounds of whether or not society is harmed. For example, society is harmed in cases involving assault, force and violence, children, incest, (Continued où page 29)

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