Rape Typologies: Motives and Psychology of Rapists

Introduction: Scope and Definitions

Between 2002 and 2003, there were approximately 223,280 victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault in the United States alone. By this estimate, someone in America is sexually assaulted every two and a half minutes, and statistically, most of these victims are women (Catalano, 2). Further, since only 20 to 50 percent of rapes are reported to police, the actual number is likely much higher (Scully, 6). In order to understand these violent attacks and devise ways to combat the crime, it is imperative to understand the motives behind them and the minds of the attackers.

First, it is essential to understand the differences in terminology when discussing rape. In order for a sexual crime to be considered rape, most states require that the sexual activity be involuntary and committed only because of force or the threat of force (Groth, 3). In other states, however, the term can be applied to involuntary sexual activity committed as a result of pressure from a figure of authority (Groth, 4). The important factor, regardless of the specific definition, is that rape involves a sexual act committed without the consent of the victim.

Rape as Non-Sexual Aggression

These sexual acts, when committed against the will of the victim, are considered rape — but to assume that the motivation for such acts is sexual gratification would be inaccurate. Studies have shown that rape is seldom motivated by sexual indulgence (Renfrew, 207). In one such study, none of the rapists surveyed used rape as their only means of sexual satisfaction. In fact, one-third of the respondents were married, while the rest had girlfriends or regularly sought out prostitutes. Further, according to the victims surveyed, no attempts at seduction were made, indicating that sex was not the primary goal of the attacker. Even more telling is the fact that, in the rape crimes examined, one-third of the attackers were sexually dysfunctional during the attack and fewer than half of the victims tested positive for sperm, indicating the attacker did not achieve sexual satisfaction (Renfrew, 208).

According to current theories of criminal deviance, rape is not caused by a need for sexual satisfaction but rather by a variety of different factors. As a result, criminal psychologists have developed classifications of rape to help legal personnel track potential suspects, since each form of rape stems from different motivations. While many theories have been proposed, most theorists agree there are at least three categories: anger rape, power rape, and sadistic rape.

References

Bancroft, Lundy. Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men. New York: Berkley/Penguin, 2002.

Catalano, Shannan M. "Criminal Victimization, 2003." National Crime Victimization Survey. NCJ 205455. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 2004.

Groth, A. Nicholas. Men Who Rape: The Psychology of the Offender. New York: Plenum Press, 1979.

Langevin, Ron. Sexual Strands: Understanding and Treating Sexual Anomalies in Men. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1983.

Motiuk, Laurence. The Prevalence, Nature, and Severity of Mental Health Problems among Federal Male Inmates in Canadian Penitentiaries. Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 1991.

Renfrew, John W. Aggression and Its Causes: A Biopsychosocial Approach. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.

Scully, Diana. Understanding Sexual Violence: A Study of Convicted Rapists. Oxford, UK: Routledge, 1994.