Summary

Human sexuality is diverse, encompassing identities, emotions, fantasies, and their various behavioural expressions. Distinguishing between normative and pathological sexual behaviour is challenging, particularly when the purpose of the assessment is connected to expert testimony, questions of criminal responsibility, or risk assessment. The evaluation of sexual behaviour in a legal context is inevitably sensitive; consequently, the interpretation of unusual or socially unacceptable characteristics without clear criteria and a methodological framework may lead to unjustified or biased conclusions. Terms such as ‘paedophile’, ‘sex addiction’, ‘pornography addiction’, and ‘hypersexuality’ are frequently used in the media to describe both unlawful behaviour and conduct that deviates from social or moral norms. These same concepts have also found their way into judicial practice, where experts are occasionally required to assess individuals’ sexual behaviour in both criminal and civil proceedings. However, developments in medicine and psychology concerning human behaviour and its causes have resulted in changes to the understanding of these concepts. Consequently, there is a growing need to clarify the topic and align it with current scientific knowledge and best practice. This article describes disorders related to sexual behaviour, the role of sexual-behaviour assessment in risk evaluation, and the ethical limits that apply when providing expert assessments and opinions.