Causes of Rape
Causes of Rape
DeShanta J. Ray
Philosophy 308
Instructor Glen Egbert
October 13, 2005
Causes of Rape
This study investigated responses to a questionnaire administered to forty respondents. The subjects, female n=20 and male n=20, were individually selected and given a questionnaire for immediate response. The questionnaire was comprised of 23 statements, 16 were graded on a 5-point Likert Scale and the remaining was used for demographic comparison. The 16 questions were subgrouped to represent four theories of causes of rape listed in Hyde 's text (1996). Originally it was determined that men would take the psychopathology point of view whereas the women would take a more feminist view of rape. Due to limited research capabilities the questionnaire was compared using only gender demographics. The results were that both men and women take a more feminist view compared to the other choices (victim precipitated, pyschopathology of rapists, and social disorganization).
Introduction
Rape throughout time has had many meanings. Prior to the 1970s, the "common law" definition was predominately used. Under "common law" rape was an unlawful act of carnal knowledge of a female without her consent (Reid, 1989). For this study I used a more modern definition of rape. Rape is defined as "nonconsensual oral, anal, or vaginal penetrations, obtained by force, by threat of bodily harm, or when the victim is incapable of giving consent" (Hyde, 1996, p.344). Hyde defines four theoretical views as to why people commit rape (1996).
The first theory is victim precipitated. This theory claims, "a rape is always caused by a woman asking for it. ' Rape then, is basically the woman 's fault. This view represents the tendency to blame the victim" (Hyde, 1996. p.350). This theory also follows Freud 's view of the interaction of male and female. "Freud held the pessimistic view that men are inherently sadistic while women are innately masochistic. The
DeShanta J. Ray
Philosophy 308
Instructor Glen Egbert
October 13, 2005
Causes of Rape
This study investigated responses to a questionnaire administered to forty respondents. The subjects, female n=20 and male n=20, were individually selected and given a questionnaire for immediate response. The questionnaire was comprised of 23 statements, 16 were graded on a 5-point Likert Scale and the remaining was used for demographic comparison. The 16 questions were subgrouped to represent four theories of causes of rape listed in Hyde 's text (1996). Originally it was determined that men would take the psychopathology point of view whereas the women would take a more feminist view of rape. Due to limited research capabilities the questionnaire was compared using only gender demographics. The results were that both men and women take a more feminist view compared to the other choices (victim precipitated, pyschopathology of rapists, and social disorganization).
Introduction
Rape throughout time has had many meanings. Prior to the 1970s, the "common law" definition was predominately used. Under "common law" rape was an unlawful act of carnal knowledge of a female without her consent (Reid, 1989). For this study I used a more modern definition of rape. Rape is defined as "nonconsensual oral, anal, or vaginal penetrations, obtained by force, by threat of bodily harm, or when the victim is incapable of giving consent" (Hyde, 1996, p.344). Hyde defines four theoretical views as to why people commit rape (1996).
The first theory is victim precipitated. This theory claims, "a rape is always caused by a woman asking for it. ' Rape then, is basically the woman 's fault. This view represents the tendency to blame the victim" (Hyde, 1996. p.350). This theory also follows Freud 's view of the interaction of male and female. "Freud held the pessimistic view that men are inherently sadistic while women are innately masochistic. The
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