Are Rapists fundamentally different from average people?

srasmus4 · 2012-09-05T18:05:36+00:00

This could be extended to most criminal behavior. Everything from chemicals in the brain to learned behaviors may give the answer you're looking for. Could be poor impulse control, it could just be someone who gets off on it because it's the ultimate criminalized violation of another human being. There won't be any one answer. The only universal truth is that no one has a predilection towards rape due to their sex. Be it learned or otherwise.

753861429-951843627 · 2012-09-05T18:05:30+00:00

From what I've read; the act of rape is a way for the rapist to feel that (s)he is in control of the victim. This does not necessarily mean that the person that commits the crime is fundamentally different from others. It might be the case the this person has never felt in control their entire life, and their brain eventually snaps.

I don't think this means that every person who feels out of control is bound to commit rape, but they might be more likely to commit any violent crime, rape being one of them.

If you think this statement is wrong, feel free to educate me on the matter. I am no psychologist so this can in no way be called a professional's statement.

Curebores · 2012-09-05T18:14:33+00:00

I don't think there is anything like a "rape gene" or anything like that. People who do the same thing don't necessarily do it for the same reasons. Their reasons may be some, all or none of the ones you cited.

In essence: Real people don't fit into neat little boxes.

typhonblue · 2012-09-05T20:25:55+00:00

Rapists are often people who have been raped and are hit with a combo of bad genes and abusive upbringing.

It's a behaviour pattern that isn't taught with words(rape culture) but through actions.

Rapists are 'normal' people who are severely psychologically damaged. They are not acting on 'natural desires' because human beings desire being desired more then sex itself and rape, by definition, is forcing sex on someone who does not desire(on any level) that sex with you.

InfinitelyThirsting · 2012-09-05T19:17:25+00:00

If there's one thing that other cultures and history teach, it's that just about anyone can be any sort of "criminal" we deplore now, if they're taught that it's not a bad thing. People are very pliable, and if your youth is spent being taught that something is okay, you're likely going to think that's... okay! Even though a person from a more "advanced" society would find it despicable.

But most people are not fundamentally rapists, and unless taught to be so, would not rape given the right situation. Some people are--there will always be rapists, regardless of culture, because there will always be unstable selfish people. But culture has a lot to do with it.

2012-09-06T03:21:01+00:00

I think that people have varying degrees of care for the welfare of others, whether that is due to nature or nurture is irrelevant.

A person who has little care for the feeling/wellbeing of others, and who also has little respect for the law, probably sees little reason not to prioritise their sexual pleasure over other's wellbeing

cronus85 · 2012-09-06T09:21:59+00:00

I would offer that it really depends on the act and actor.

If we think about a forceful rape whether it be physical or manipulative I would yes they are different from the majority. I would contend they probably have anti-social personality disorder with narcissist tenancies i.e. other people don't matter but they can serve my interests as tools.

But if we look at other rape such as late night drunken date rape with a girl bordering on consciousness, then yes, this can be anyone. On the plus side, comprehensive sex education could stem a lot of this; by saying this 'is' rape and that you need to gain affirmative consent by getting a "yes" instead of a "no", even if this is nonverbal; and that consent can be revoked at anytime, for any reason. Sex education needs to be a lot more than the mechanics, teaching basic sexual etiquette will go a long way in my opinion.

TL;DR: Depends...

rightsbot · 2012-09-05T17:56:17+00:00

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ErasmusMRA · 2012-09-05T17:59:51+00:00

What kind of rape are you talking about? Are you talking about attacked-on-the-street-by-a-stranger-and-raped rape, or the more common coerced-by-a-friend-or-a-family-member rape?

According to some, rape is not a pathology but an alternative reproductive strategy.

Title	Are Rapists fundamentally different from average people?
Author	srasmus4
Upvotes	7
Comments	15
Date	September 5, 2012 5:56 PM UTC (13 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/zej9g/are_rapists_fundamentally_different_from_average/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/are-rapists-fundamentally-different-from-average.1014234 https://theredarchive.com/post/1014234

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