Plasma androgens and the sex offender.

In recent years, the study of human behavior has been greatly enriched by advances in the biologic and physiologic sciences and the concomitant development of organic methods, especially drugs, to alter and to treat cognitive, affective, and behavior disorders. In particular, recent refinements in the techniques for measuring plasma hormone levels have prompted increased interest in the psychoendocrinology of behavior, including sexual disorders and the paraphilias. The purpose of this paper is to briefly summarize new developments in the psychoendocrinology of sexual and aggressive behavior, to present findings from two studies of androgens in rapists and child molesters, and to highlight several new and promising areas of research.