Today, I'm going to ruffle some feathers (Aelius ruffling feathers?! You don't say...) by challenging the widely-held contemporary and politically correct sociocultural/feminist explanation of rape as being an act motivated by a desire to dominate females with violence and power rather than being motivated by sexual desire. After spending all night reviewing the scientific literature and consulting countless sources, it has become clear to me that a biobehavioural explanation for the phenomenon of rape more adequately explains the existing data. Specifically, the biobehavioural explanation of rape being that it is an evolved adaptation for reproductive success which manifests under certain circumstances.
Let me hasten to emphasize that providing an evolutionary explanation for rape does not excuse or justify rape or mitigate the perpetrator's culpability or suggest that he should not be punished or punished less severely. To suggest such a thing would be an example of the naturalistic fallacy.
The biobehavioural hypothesis of rape is that rape can serve as an alternative or complementary reproductive strategy to consensual copulation for the male gender. Theoretically, a male who is otherwise incapable of finding consensual mating partners may engage in rape as the only available means by which he can reproduce. Even a male who has access to consensual mating partners may engage in rape as a means of adding on to his reproductive success.
If the biobehavioural hypothesis is true, several testable and falsifiable predictions can be made.
1) It should be the case that other non-human species engage in rape too, as rape would presumably be in the interest of males of other species.
Indeed, they do. Males in many other species (among birds, mammals, and insects) engage in rape. This seems inconsistent with the sociocultural explanation that "rape is a cultural phenomenon and not about sex" if even insects engage in it. Furthermore, rape is observed in species where males don't have an advantage in power and size, further casting doubt on the sociocultural explanation.
2) Rape should not result in severe or fatal harm to the female, because this would make it less likely that the female will successfully bear the rapist's child.
Only 4% of rape victims sustain serious injury, and fewer than 1/500 are killed. 2/3 report no physical injuries.
3) Due to differences in parental investment, rape should be overwhelmingly a male phenomenon.
In all species that engage in rape, it is almost exclusively perpetrated by males. This is the case even in species where males are not bigger and stronger, and even in species where an erect penis is not required for copulation, such as with birds.
4) Rape victims should overwhelmingly be of prime reproductive age (16-30), since you cannot conceive a child with a prepubertal or older female.
Indeed, this is overwhelmingly the case. The average rape victim is 24 years of age, and only 6% are over the age of 29.
5) Penile-vaginal rape should occur more frequently in rapes where the female is of peak reproductive age than the female is not reproductively viable, since penile-vaginal rape is the only way to impregnate a female.
This is the case as well, it seems. Female victims of rape in the peak reproductive years are more likely the victims of penile-vaginal rape (over 90%) than are older women or prepubertal girls (46%).
6) The psychological trauma suffered after a rape should be more severe for women of reproductive age than for other females, since they are more likely to be impregnated. Natural selection should favour psychological resistance to rape more so in women of reproductive age than of other ages.
Women of reproductive age are significantly more traumatized than prepubertal girls or older women.
7) Women of reproductive age who are raped should be more traumatized when they are raped penile-vaginally than when they are raped in other orifices or by other objects. Natural selection should favour psychological resistance to penile-vaginal rape more so than other forms of rape.
Indeed, this seems to be the case. Women of reproductive age who are raped penile-vaginally are more traumatized than women of reproductive age who are raped in any other fashion. Why else would this be, given that anal rape, for example, is more physically traumatizing? Furthermore, there is evidence that women who aren't of reproductive age are just as traumatized by all forms of rape, which is consistent with the biobehavioural hypothesis.
8) Rapists should disproportionately be young men, since young men tend to be more sexually frustrated and lack a consenting partner.
This is absolutely overwhelmingly the case. Only 14% of rapists are over the age of 29. Why is it that rapists in their 20s suddenly stop being rapists when they reach their 30s? And if rape is about power and not about sex, why do men in their 30s and 40s not rape as well? Testosterone levels are just about as high at these ages.
9) Rape should exist in all cultures.
It absolutely does, without exception. It is a human universal.
These are serious challenges to the widely held sociocultural explanation of rape. I welcome anyone's attempt to try and prove me wrong or demonstrate that the sociocultural explanation of rape is more parsimonious. Or, simply comment to give your thoughts in general.
Thanks to O. D. Jones and his paper "Sex, Culture, and the Biology of Rape: Toward Explanation and Prevention" where I got my data.
Let me hasten to emphasize that providing an evolutionary explanation for rape does not excuse or justify rape or mitigate the perpetrator's culpability or suggest that he should not be punished or punished less severely. To suggest such a thing would be an example of the naturalistic fallacy.
The biobehavioural hypothesis of rape is that rape can serve as an alternative or complementary reproductive strategy to consensual copulation for the male gender. Theoretically, a male who is otherwise incapable of finding consensual mating partners may engage in rape as the only available means by which he can reproduce. Even a male who has access to consensual mating partners may engage in rape as a means of adding on to his reproductive success.
If the biobehavioural hypothesis is true, several testable and falsifiable predictions can be made.
1) It should be the case that other non-human species engage in rape too, as rape would presumably be in the interest of males of other species.
Indeed, they do. Males in many other species (among birds, mammals, and insects) engage in rape. This seems inconsistent with the sociocultural explanation that "rape is a cultural phenomenon and not about sex" if even insects engage in it. Furthermore, rape is observed in species where males don't have an advantage in power and size, further casting doubt on the sociocultural explanation.
2) Rape should not result in severe or fatal harm to the female, because this would make it less likely that the female will successfully bear the rapist's child.
Only 4% of rape victims sustain serious injury, and fewer than 1/500 are killed. 2/3 report no physical injuries.
3) Due to differences in parental investment, rape should be overwhelmingly a male phenomenon.
In all species that engage in rape, it is almost exclusively perpetrated by males. This is the case even in species where males are not bigger and stronger, and even in species where an erect penis is not required for copulation, such as with birds.
4) Rape victims should overwhelmingly be of prime reproductive age (16-30), since you cannot conceive a child with a prepubertal or older female.
Indeed, this is overwhelmingly the case. The average rape victim is 24 years of age, and only 6% are over the age of 29.
5) Penile-vaginal rape should occur more frequently in rapes where the female is of peak reproductive age than the female is not reproductively viable, since penile-vaginal rape is the only way to impregnate a female.
This is the case as well, it seems. Female victims of rape in the peak reproductive years are more likely the victims of penile-vaginal rape (over 90%) than are older women or prepubertal girls (46%).
6) The psychological trauma suffered after a rape should be more severe for women of reproductive age than for other females, since they are more likely to be impregnated. Natural selection should favour psychological resistance to rape more so in women of reproductive age than of other ages.
Women of reproductive age are significantly more traumatized than prepubertal girls or older women.
7) Women of reproductive age who are raped should be more traumatized when they are raped penile-vaginally than when they are raped in other orifices or by other objects. Natural selection should favour psychological resistance to penile-vaginal rape more so than other forms of rape.
Indeed, this seems to be the case. Women of reproductive age who are raped penile-vaginally are more traumatized than women of reproductive age who are raped in any other fashion. Why else would this be, given that anal rape, for example, is more physically traumatizing? Furthermore, there is evidence that women who aren't of reproductive age are just as traumatized by all forms of rape, which is consistent with the biobehavioural hypothesis.
8) Rapists should disproportionately be young men, since young men tend to be more sexually frustrated and lack a consenting partner.
This is absolutely overwhelmingly the case. Only 14% of rapists are over the age of 29. Why is it that rapists in their 20s suddenly stop being rapists when they reach their 30s? And if rape is about power and not about sex, why do men in their 30s and 40s not rape as well? Testosterone levels are just about as high at these ages.
9) Rape should exist in all cultures.
It absolutely does, without exception. It is a human universal.
These are serious challenges to the widely held sociocultural explanation of rape. I welcome anyone's attempt to try and prove me wrong or demonstrate that the sociocultural explanation of rape is more parsimonious. Or, simply comment to give your thoughts in general.
Thanks to O. D. Jones and his paper "Sex, Culture, and the Biology of Rape: Toward Explanation and Prevention" where I got my data.