Michael C. Baurmann

Michael C. Baurmann is a German criminologist known for his work in the fields of criminal psychology, sexual violence, and child abuse. One of his more well-known studies, Sexuality, Violence, and Psychological Consequences (Sexualität, Gewalt und psychische Folgen)(1983), has been both influential and controversial. This study explored the psychological consequences of sexual violence and was criticized by some for its conclusions. He stated the varying impacts of sexual abuse and frequently absent harm. He also argued that harm to the minors could be caused by harsh and emotionally charged reactions. He proposed differentiating the punishment of a sex offender depending on the harm done. Despite the controversy, Baurmann's work remains a significant contribution to the field of criminology and sociology, and has had an impact on policy-making, particularly in Germany.

Publications

• Baurmann, Michael C. (1983). Sexuality, Violence and Psychological After-Effects: A Longitudinal Study of Cases of Sexual Assault which were Reported to the Police. In: Sessar, K., Kerner, HJ. (eds) Developments in Crime and Crime Control Research. Research in Criminology. Springer, New York, NY. (Ipce backup), (webarchive copy of the summary chapter)

Abstract

"Whenever people in our society talk about sexuality, and especially when they discuss deviant sexual behavior or sex offensses, the discussion tends to be filled with emotional upset.

This article is a summary of a larger final report of a research project conducted at the Criminological Reserach Unit of the Bundeskriminalamt (Federal Office of Criminal Police) of the Federal Republic of Germany. A summary was given at the Fourth International Symposium on Victimology in Japan (see Baurmann, M.C. (1986). Longitudinal study of cases of sexual assault: Typology and emotional after-effects. In K. Miyazawa & M. Ohya (Eds.), Victimology in Comparative Perspective (pp. 211-217). Tokyo: Seibundo).The complete study was published in 1983 under the title “Sexualität, Gewalt und psychische Folgen. Eine LĀngsschnittuntersuchung bei Opfern sexueller Gewalt und sexueller Normverletzungen anhand von angezeigten “Sexualkontakten” (for translation, see chapter title) BKA-Forschungsreihe (Vol. 15) Weisbaden, FRG. This final report contains all methodological and statistical details, as well as a comprehensive bibliography.

• Baurmann, M. (2005) "Sexuality, Adolescence and the Criminal Law: The Perspective of Criminology." Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality 16(2/3): 71-88. DOI:10.1300/J056v16n02_07

Abstract

"The provisions in the German Criminal Code protecting sexual self-determinationeven after several penal law reforms-are still criminologically not yet coherently structured and carry some contradictions. Recent research implies that in the section of the German Criminal Code establishing sexual offences three very divergent forms of deviant behavior are lumped together in an undifferentiated way: violent offences, infractions of moral norms and commercialization of sexuality (the latter in most cases in the form of organised crime). Some offences lack empirical justification in the sense of a concept of protection, for example due to the fact that damage caused to victims is not proven. In addition the establishment of age limits turns out as a difficult task, i.e., when consensual (love) relations of adolescents and of young adults are concerned. International efforts to approximate (sexual) offences legislation carry the risk that reasoned, criminologically analysed and empirically justified regulations are sacrificed to populistic diffused mainstream-thinking."