The last decade or so has seen a dramatic increase in both interest and research in the sexual offending area. Thus, the literature of this area is both varied and abundant in its scope and has resulted in the dual problems of proliferation and neglect. To solve these dual problems, Ward and Hudson (1997) proposed their metatheoretical framework for the construction and organisation of theory in the sexual offending area. This framework provides the basis for the theory knitting involved in the coercive model proposed by this thesis; with Marshall and Barbaree's (1990) theory of the etiology of sexual offending and Malamuth, Heavey and Linz' (1993) confluence model of sex1.1al aggression providing the primary material. Marshall and Barbaree's theory and Malamuth et al.'s model are able to be 'knitted' due to their complimentary natures and the significant overlap between the two. The coercive model developed in this thesis also includes additional material which helps to fill several of the explanatory gaps not covered by the knitting of the theory and the model. An evaluation of the coercive model is given as well as suggestions for various avenues of future research.