If Rape Is So Despised, Why Is Rape So Widespread?

[Sunstone]

If rape is near universally considered a heinous crime, then why is rape so widespread and frequent? Why is there a worldwide epidemic of rape, and why is there little or no historical evidence that rape was any less frequent in the past than it is today?

 

[retrorich]

If Rape Is So Despised, Why Is Rape So Widespread?

Probably because most rapists are mentally ill people who actually dispise themselves.

 

[Sunstone]

Probably because most rapists are mentally ill people who actually dispise themselves.

But worldwide, aren't most rapists soldiers, militiamen, or armed thugs who are no more mentally ill than anyone else?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

If rape is near universally considered a heinous crime, then why is rape so widespread and frequent?

Define frequent. Define widespread. It is self evident that the rapist does not consider it a heinous crime and/or does not find that such a consideration dissuasive.

The question is right up there with: if sugar is universally considered nutritionally problematic, why are there so many cookies?

 

[Sunstone]

Define frequent. Define widespread. It is self evident that the rapist does not consider it a heinous crime and/or does not find that such a consideration dissuasive.

The question is right up there with: if sugar is universally considered nutritionally problematic, why are there so many cookies?

Do you think humans are genetically predisposed towards rape?

 

[BucephalusBB]

If rape is near universally considered a heinous crime, then why is rape so widespread and frequent?

Because sex is known as delicious and not everybody holds the same value as taking it.

 

[Sunstone]

Because sex is known as delicious and not everybody holds the same value as taking it.

Do you think the behavior of rape has a genetic componet? Is it, in effect, a reproductive strategy?

 

[MysticSang'ha]

If rape is near universally considered a heinous crime, then why is rape so widespread and frequent? Why is there a worldwide epidemic of rape, and why is there little or no historical evidence that rape was any less frequent in the past than it is today?

Rape is a form of violence, and violence is a tool used by the powerful to subdue the exploited. Worldwide, women and children are most exploited because of their low status overall in different cultures.



Peace,
Mystic

 

[Sunstone]

Rape is a form of violence, and violence is a tool used by the powerful to subdue the exploited. Worldwide, women and children are most exploited because of their low status overall in different cultures.

Why then is this particular form of violence so widespread? Is rape a form of violence for which humans are genetically predisposed?

 

[jamaesi]

Why then is this particular form of violence so widespread?

Possibly because it is rather "effective" at dehumanising others and giving power to the assaulter.

 

[Sunstone]

Possibly because it is rather "effective" at dehumanising others and giving power to the assaulter.

But how would that lead it to being a widespread and frequent behavior?

 

[Djamila]

Do you think the behavior of rape has a genetic componet? Is it, in effect, a reproductive strategy?

Of course it does. The rape camps the Serbian Army operated in Bosnia purposely held their victims into their 8th month of pregnancy so the women could not get abortions. They were taunted all the time, "Now you'll have a Serb baby!"

I think it's just a way of destroying the community. Like throwing salt to the fields.

 

[PureX]

If rape is near universally considered a heinous crime, then why is rape so widespread and frequent? Why is there a worldwide epidemic of rape, and why is there little or no historical evidence that rape was any less frequent in the past than it is today?

Obviously, rape is not universally despised.

Collectively, human beings have learned that they must protect certain ideals, and one of the most obvious of these is the individual's right to life and property. Without the protection of this ideal, human beings will have a very difficult time living together, successfully. And we all know this.

But just because we all know this ideal is necessary for the good of collective society, doesn't mean that we all personally abhor killing other human beings, or taking their "possessions". And the fact that so much murder and rape and robbery occur is proof that there are many among us that do not abhor these actions even though they may understand and agree with the need for them to be outlawed.

Also, we human beings are dynamic and complex phenomena. We are capable of holding contradictory ideas and desires simultaneously. We can both believe that rape is evil, and desire to commit rape in spite of that belief, and maybe even because of it.

When dealing with human beings, it's best not to think in such a one-dimensional logical and linear way. Every human being is a complex "event" that has ramifications and effects going out in all directions at once.

 

[Ciscokid]

Do you think humans are genetically predisposed towards rape?

Not sure on that one. I wonder if women were as strong and agressive as men, if rape attempts would plummet.

 

[Sunstone]

Why did rape evolve as a human behavior? Rape is absent in the behavior of most other primates.

 

[Yerda]

Why did rape evolve as a human behavior?

The progress of your postings seem to imply that you feel there is a genetic cause, Phil. It's certainly a compelling (though distressing) idea. A hypothetical gene that predisposes males to rape females appears to have an immediate advantage over a gene that encourages courtship and consent, and subsequent admission of defeat where consent is not forthcoming.

Rape is absent in the behavior of most other primates.

I did not know this was true, personally I would have expected rape to be a somewhat common strategy amongst animals that demand enegy consuming courtship. Perhaps the answer lies in the structural differences of our communities.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Why did rape evolve as a human behavior? Rape is absent in the behavior of most other primates.

It's likely because of the reproductive cycles female primates have as compared to humans. Human females can secrete sexual hormones, scents, and other bodily signals any day of the month and year of her reproductive cycles, whereas primates can't. The window for fertility in primates is much different and shorter than humans, and the urge to reproduce then becomes significant.



AFAIK, human females are the only species that can and does have sex for pleasure.




I don't believe that humans are genetically predisposed to rape, however.............that somehow presumes that humans are genetically predisposed to violence, and violence is a learned behavior.




Peace,
Mystic

 

[Sunstone]

The progress of your postings seem to imply that you feel there is a genetic cause, Phil. It's certainly a compelling (though distressing) idea. A hypothetical gene that predisposes males to rape females appears to have an immediate advantage over a gene that encourages courtship and consent, and subsequent admission of defeat where consent is not forthcoming.

The advantage that courtship, consent and pair bonding would have over rape is that the children of a solid pair bond (marriage) would be much more likely to have two parents to raise them. Since human children require more time and effort to raise than any other species, that would be a significant advantage for pair bonding. Yet, rape would remain a viable reproductive strategy under certain circumstances. The odd thing about humans is that our species seems to have more than one reproductive strategie.

I did not know this was true, personally I would have expected rape to be a somewhat common strategy amongst animals that demand enegy consuming courtship. Perhaps the answer lies in the structural differences of our communities.

It's almost impossible to answer a question like, "Why didn't such and such a behavior evolve in such and such a species?" There are just too many possibilities, I would think.

 

[Sunstone]

I don't believe that humans are genetically predisposed to rape, however.............that somehow presumes that humans are genetically predisposed to violence, and violence is a learned behavior.

I think violence, like rape, is something that is both learned and genetic. It's not an either/or thing, but a matter of both factors being significant.

 

[Flappycat]

The motives aren't always violence, though. Add alcohol or some other drug to a wild party, and someone will eventually end up a part of someone else's good time, willingly or no. In these cases, the violators are too distracted by mating drive and the effects of whatever substance they're abusing to understand the consequences of their actions, and the victims may be too trashed to put up enough complaint to stop it. Other such scenarios are in plenty. Some just don't understand how this act affects a person psychologically.

However, there are plenty of cases of rape that have truly violent intentions behind them, and I think that the only way to understand why a person would commit such an act would be to work out how and why you would do so. Measure out chains of events and decisions that would realistically lead you to commit this sort of crime. Perhaps there are even circumstances under which you could fool yourself into thinking it's justified.

As for humans being the only animal that has sex for pleasure, not so. All animals find sex pleasurable. This includes dolphins, who also share with us the ability and likelihood of commiting the act of rape. Other animals just don't make as much an issue of it as humans; they were never really taught to feel especially violated over it, and they were never taught that it was wrong. It remains, however, that it occurs.