NCJ Number
46846
Journal
PAGEANT Volume: 31 Issue: 11 Dated: (MAY 1976) Pages: 122-130
Date Published
1976
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE VARIOUS MOTIVATIONS OF RAPISTS, HIS STATUS AS AN OFFENDER, THE ROLE OF THE VICTIM, AND ASPECTS OF PENAL SANCTIONS AND TREATMENTS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THREE CASES OF RAPE ARE CITED IN AN EFFORT TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN SOME OF THE BASIC MOTIVATIONS FOR SUCH ASSAULTS. IN SOME CASES SEX BECOMES THE MEANS BY WHICH THE OFFENDER CAN DEGRADE A VICTIM. IN OTHER CASES THERE IS A DESPERATE NEED ON THE PART OF THE OFFENDER TO REASSURE HIMSELF OF HIS ADEQUACY AND COMPETENCY AS A MAN; RAPE HERE ALLOWS FEELINGS OF POWER AND CONTROL OVER SOMEONE ELSE. IN OTHER CASES THE OFFENDER IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO CANNOT ACHIEVE SEXUAL SATISFACTION UNLESS HIS VICTIM PHYSICALLY RESISTS HIM. RAPE MAY ALSO BE AN EXPRESSION OF EXPLOITATION BY A PREDATORY INDIVIDUAL SUCH AS A BURGLAR WHO FEELS ENTITLED TO DO WHAT HE WANTS WITHOUT REGARD FOR THE RIGHTS OR FEELINGS OF OTHERS. IT IS INACCURATE TO DESCRIBE THE RAPIST AS OVERSEXED; RAPE IS ALWAYS THE SYMPTOM OF SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM, EITHER TRANSIENT DUE TO STRESS OR CHRONIC AND REPETITIVE. RAPISTS GENERALLY DO NOT HAVE A MATURE VIEW OF HUMAN BEINGS, LACKING QUALITIES SUCH AS WARMTH, MUTUALITY, TENDERNESS, RECIPROCITY, AND TRUST IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS. ONE OF THE MOST PERSISTENT MYTHS ABOUT RAPE IS THAT THE VICTIM IS IN SOME WAY A PARTY TO THE OFFENSE. IF THE VICTIM IN FACT ACTS SEDUCTIVELY, SHE STILL RETAINS THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SEXUAL ADVANCES. IT IS ALSO THOUGHT A WOMAN COULD REALLY PREVENT AN ASSAULT. THE FACT IS, HOWEVER, THAT RAPE OCCURS THROUGH INTIMIDATION WITH A WEAPON, THREAT OF HARM OR INJURY, OR BY WAY OF BRUTE FORCE. WHAT MIGHT SUCCESSFULLY DISSUADE ONE OFFENDER MIGHT ONLY SERVE TO AGGRAVATE OR EXCITE ANOTHER. RAPE IS SOMETIMES ATTRIBUTED TO THE INCREASING AVAILABILITY OF PORNOGRAPHY; BUT SINCE AROUSAL OF FEAR OR ANGER, NOT SEXUAL AROUSAL, LEADS TO RAPE, THE BANNING OF PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL WILL NOT STOP THE CRIME. ANOTHER COMMON MISCONCEPTION IS THE NOTION THAT CASTRATION OF RAPISTS WOULD BE A SOLUTION. EVEN IF CASTRATION ALWAYS RENDERED THE INDIVIDUAL SEXUALLY IMPOTENT, WHICH IT DOES NOT, SUCH AN ACTION WOULD NOT SOLVE THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS THAT PROMPT AN INDIVIDUAL TO UNDERTAKE AN ASSAULT. MERE INCARCERATION IS NOT THE ANSWER EITHER; PRISON TERMS HAVE MAXIMUM LIMITS ARE USUALLY BACK ON THE STREETS IN A SHORT TIME. COMMITMENT TO SPECIAL HEALTH FACILITIES IS A SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE. THE RAPIST WOULD BE SENTENCED INDEFINITELY, IN LIEU OF OR IN ADDITION TO A PRISON TERM, AND A SERIOUS EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO USE TECHNIQUES OF THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONS IN AN EFFORT TO REMEDY THE OFFENDER'S PERSONALITY DEFECTS WHICH LED TO THE ASSAULTS. (KBL)