Chapter 3 – Penile Plethysmography

A critical appraisal of the uses of penile plethysmography (PPG) with adolescent sexual offenders is presented. Information concerning the evolution of PPG during the past half century is reviewed, ranging from an analysis of the sexual preference hypothesis that underlies the use and development of PPG, to the psychometric properties of the PPG, as well as the procedural elements of conducting a PPG evaluation with adolescents. The differences between adolescent and adult sexual development with regard to conducting PPG evaluations are also analyzed. Implications for using PPG as a part of an overall and comprehensive psychosexual evaluation of adolescent sexual offenders are detailed, including resources for learning more about PPG and its application in this special clinical population.