Understanding Rape: Myths, Societal Factors, and Consequences - Prof. S. Spencer | Study notes Psychology

Study Guide Exam # 4 PGS 394

Sexual Coercion

statutory rape- by law. Adult having sex with someone who is under age unless

they are married.

false beliefs about rape:Women can’t be raped if they don’t want to b.”“Women

say no when they mean yes” “Many women ‘cry rape’” “All women want to be

raped” “Rapists are obviously mentally ill” “Men can’t control their sexual urges”

characteristics of rape free societies:

women & men share power & authority. Women & men contribute equally to the

community welfare. Children of both sexes raised to value nurturance & to avoid

aggression & violence

characteristics of rape prone societies-tolerate & even glorify masculine

violence - encouraging boys to be aggressive & competitive - view physical

force as exemplary & natural - men have greater economic power - men remain

aloof from “women’s work”

characteristics of men who rape: Embrace male-dominance. Anger toward

women. Alcohol may contribute. Self-centered; less sensitive.History of

progressively more violent sexual offenses. Majority are fairly unremarkable

people. Inclination to rape seems very common

UCLA, 27% of men said that there was. some likelihood that they would commit

rape if they could get away with it. 17% said they had engaged in acts that would

meet the legal definition of rape

Characteristics of those college males who are inclined to rape: - grew up

in violent home environment - were abused as children - juvenile delinquency -

had large numbers of sexual partners - interested in impersonal sex -

dominating or hostile attitudes toward women. Men capable of empathy did not

express inclination.

psychological problems of men who rape

reasons why rape is underreported

rape drugs & rape convictions Rohyphnol: sedative causing muscle

relaxation and amnesia. Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GBH) and Ketamine

hydrocloride (Special K)

ways to reduce risk of stranger rape

ways to reduce the risk of acquaintance rape:

ways to be supportive of a rape victim

why are men so angry with women?

why does the US have the highest incidence of rape?

stereotyped gender roles. Males are taught that power, aggressiveness & getting

what one wants are part of male role. Taught to seek sex & expect to be

successful. Women taught to be passive, yielding to men’s needs.. Marital rape

was not a crime in all 50 states until 1993!

what are the typical ingredients of a gang rape?

characteristics of rape victims: 50% under age of 18; 22% before 12. Women

16-24 are most frequent victims. The younger the victim, the more likely the

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Study Guide Exam # 4 PGS 394 Sexual Coercion statutory rape- by law. Adult having sex with someone who is under age unless they are married. false beliefs about rape: Women can’t be raped if they don’t want to b.”“Women say no when they mean yes” “Many women ‘cry rape’” “All women want to be raped” “Rapists are obviously mentally ill” “Men can’t control their sexual urges” characteristics of rape free societies: women & men share power & authority. Women & men contribute equally to the community welfare. Children of both sexes raised to value nurturance & to avoid aggression & violence characteristics of rape prone societies -tolerate & even glorify masculine violence - encouraging boys to be aggressive & competitive - view physical force as exemplary & natural - men have greater economic power - men remain aloof from “women’s work” characteristics of men who rape: Embrace male-dominance. Anger toward women. Alcohol may contribute. Self-centered; less sensitive.History of progressively more violent sexual offenses. Majority are fairly unremarkable people. Inclination to rape seems very common UCLA, 27% of men said that there was. some likelihood that they would commit rape if they could get away with it. 17% said they had engaged in acts that would meet the legal definition of rape Characteristics of those college males who are inclined to rape: - grew up in violent home environment - were abused as children - juvenile delinquency - had large numbers of sexual partners - interested in impersonal sex - dominating or hostile attitudes toward women. Men capable of empathy did not express inclination. psychological problems of men who rape reasons why rape is underreported rape drugs & rape convictions Rohyphnol: sedative causing muscle relaxation and amnesia. Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GBH) and Ketamine hydrocloride (Special K) ways to reduce risk of stranger rape ways to reduce the risk of acquaintance rape: ways to be supportive of a rape victim why are men so angry with women? why does the US have the highest incidence of rape? stereotyped gender roles. Males are taught that power, aggressiveness & getting what one wants are part of male role. Taught to seek sex & expect to be successful. Women taught to be passive, yielding to men’s needs.. Marital rape was not a crime in all 50 states until 1993! what are the typical ingredients of a gang rape? characteristics of rape victims: 50% under age of 18; 22% before 12. Women 16-24 are most frequent victims. The younger the victim, the more likely the

perpetrator is relative or acquaintance. Cultural differences in reporting. Low SES may confer greater risk. Victims of childhood sexual abuse at increased risk for adult sexual revictimization rape of males: 3.3 - 5.5% of men victims of rape. Rarely reported in media or medical literature. Only in last decade or so have states revised codes such that male rape existed as crime. Gay men, prison inmates & POWs more likely to be raped. Gang rape more often by hetero men; sometimes rapist is homosexual. Men have been physically coerced by women; can perform. Men less likely than women to report rape- Fear they will be judged, reflects weakness or personal blame characteristics of pedophiles -No classic profile, except male & heterosexual. Shy, lonely, poorly informed about sex, moralistic or religious. Poor interpersonal & sexual relations. Feel socially inadequate. Alcoholism, severe marital problems, sexual difficulties, poor emotional adjustment. Were victims themselves most common form of incest - brother and sister tactics used by incest offenders to secure victims why do children not report sexual abuse? recovered memories...possible or not? Many abuse victims do not remember documented abuse. Controversy: Are memories planted by therapists? Sometimes. Can they be recovered years later? yes use of cyberspace by pedophiles - Internet provides increased opportunities to take advantage of children. First gain child’s trust then try and arrange meeting. Communications Decency Act, 1996- Overruled by US Supreme Court in 1997 - “would erode free speech.” in 2002 struck down law that would make computer generated images of children illegal. Prevention- primarily parents’ responsibility emotional/behavior sequelae of child sexual abuse ephebophilia- Attraction to post-pubescents, 13-17. Lack of attraction to adults. prevention of child sexual abuse relationship between pedophila/molestation/pedophila -Pedophilia: psychiatric diagnosis: need to be at least 16 & principal attraction is to anyone up to 13, but must be at least 5 years younger. Some pedophiles molest children, some do not. Molester: anyone who has had sexual contact with a prepubescent child. Legal definition. how should parents react to news of their child’s sexual abuse? what factors determine whether effects of child sexual abuse will be severe? abuse of longer duration. close relationship with offender. physical force used sexual contact between adults & children is coercive, because? Sexual contact with a child is always coercive because children cannot give informed consent brain differences in pedophiles 2007 study: MRI revealed “frontostriatal morphometric” abnormalities – associated with inadequate urges & poorly inhibited repetitive behavior. 2004 Cantor: reduced IQ, reduced immediate & delayed recall memory, non-right handedness. More likely to have had a head injury prior to age 13.

illegal if the purveyor suggests, or the consumer believes, that it portrays real minors. 2008 Supreme Court decision. Can even be prosecute for attempting to sell non-existent child porn. Man attempted to sell porn pictures of his 4-yr-old daughter which he didn’t have. definitions of obscenity E stablished with Miller v California 1973 (Miller ran a mail-order porn business) Appeals to prurient interest sex. Patently offensive to contemporary community standards. Without serious literary, artistic, political, scientific value - to “average” person difference between erotica & pornography- (erotica) Depictions of sexuality which display mutuality, respect, affection, & balance of power. Can be soft or hard-core. More common with women’s involvement in production of sexually explicit materials study: 4 videos, high or low on love & affection & high or low on explicitness. Both men & women rated the video which was high on both as best. conclusions of 1970 Commission on Obscenity & Pornography- recommended repeal of all adult pornography laws. Found no increase in sex offenses. No long term changes in behavior. conclusions of 1986 Meese Commission on pornography- recommended vigorous prosecution of obscenity. Criticized by scientists re selection of porn. Said it caused aggressive behavior towards women & promoted promiscuity. Did recommend making child porn a felony. various political positions re pornography - Liberal Position- no scientific evidence for porn causing harm in society, so no reason to ban. Moral Right Position - is a representation of sex or violence removed from its proper social context or a symptom of preoccupation with sex which is unrelated to its purpose. - threat to traditional family values. - sex exists for procreation & should be confined to marriage. - argues for censorship of “perverse” & homosexual imagery, suppression of information on birth control, abortion & sex education.- porn creates general social & moral decay - not interested in psychological research. common sense tells you that any imagery designed to titillate is offensive & will lead to sex crimes Feminist Position - sexist, exploitative, racist. - offensive to women, incitement to violence against women.

reduces women to body parts. - celebrates idea of men’s insatiable sexual appetite & women’s ubiquitous sexual availability. Feminists Against Censorship - mistake to reduce all sexism & misogyny to porn - men’s contempt for & sexualization of women was here long before porn.
puts at risk women’s evolving exploration of their sexuality. - blanket condemnation discourages women from facing up to their own sexual fears & infantile fantasies - women’s guilt, shame, anxiety, contradiction similar to men’s as expressed in porn. need more SEM produced by & for women & an open & honest discussion of all sexual issues. arguments in favor of pornography possible negative effects of consuming pornography psychological theories describing effects of pornography on consumers what “messages” are included in violent pornography- Women enjoy being raped, hurt & humiliated.- Her protests are transformed into arousal & pleasure.

Men exist on a continuum from no tendency to aggress sexually to violent rapists on the other. The power to change a person’s location on that continuum has not been examined. what “messages” are included in non-violent pornography- Men are always ready for sex- Emphasizes conquest rather than pleasure- Women are intensely responsive to just about any stimulation from men- Women are portrayed as promiscuous & submissive- Only human emotions are lust & fear- No foreplay, cuddling, afterplay No love & affection- Shows women inserting objects- Promotes myth of female ejaculation- Denies reality of refractory period for men Exaggerates men’s capacities for arousal, orgasm & ejaculation what is the relationship between sexual offending and consumption of pornography? Prostitution working conditions of various prostitutes according to the guest speakers on prostitution: who is the most common customer? Middle aged wealthy white males seeking blowjobs. common factor in backgrounds of prostitutes- bad relationship with father. relationship between drug use & prostitution- if you were not into drugs when you started you will be. where are brothels legal? nevada “typical” prostitute BOOK why do women go into prostitution? Primarily economic, combination of psychological, social & environmental factors, Homelessness, traumatic childhood, Can be a matter of personal choice & sense of power and control, Desire for attention from customers, Prostitution usually came before drug/alcohol problems possible consequences of decriminalization of prostitution, negative & positive Reasons for Criminalization: Reduces number of prostitutes , Easier to enforce restrictions , Regulates public morality .Reasons against Criminalization Effective restriction is difficult , Encourages organized crime , Hampers rehabilitation , Discrimination in enforcement male prostitutes call boys and more teenage sex workers advantages of legalizing prostitution- work in perscrbed locations under defined conditions. Might be required to get a license or take safe-sex classes. Periodic physical exams, those in favor say that it would reduce harmful side effects of prostitution( disease, violence, organized crime) those against say it will increase number of people who go to prostitutes. Thus increasing the harm. why do men seek prostitutes? Shy, Unlikable, Physically unattractive, Disabled, Avoid hassles of real relationship, Needs more sex than what is available in regular relationship, Wants activities that regular partner does not want to do, Sexual variety, Thrill of “forbidden sex”, Fear genitals are, too small, Misogyny, Escape from pressures of life, Rite of passage

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