NCJ Number
122444
Date Published
1987
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study reviews the biological and cultural factors in sexual assault and child molestation.
Abstract
Biologically, the male strategy to reproductive success is to have genes differentially represented in the next generation. This can involve forming a pair bond and having sexual activities either of a coercible or a seductive nature. From an evolutionary perspective, the only relevant factor in reproductive behavior is success. Success is defined by the percentage of genes represented in the next generation. This key phenomenon has to be related in some fundamental way to all human sexual behavior. There is no social/biological theory of sexual behavior or coercible sexuality to date, but the genetic calculus must be taken into account. In cross-cultural studies, sexual assault is related to a variety of variables, including a marital couple living with the male's relatives, groups of biologically-related men exerting power in society, weak punishments for sexual assault, family feuding, cultural acceptance of interpersonal violence, a male ideology of toughness, gender separation, and lack of female power. A study of rapists indicates they are aroused more by coercive sexual activity than nonrapists. Chronic rapists tend to be interested in sadistic fantasy. Societies marked by a high degree of child molestation are marked by gender antagonism, gender separation, and a low status for women.