Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

 
Module 34 
The Diversity of Sexual Behavior 
371
women in comparison to non-Latino white women, the rate for black women is 
slightly higher in comparison to white women. Such racial differences may stem 
from differing cultural views of women and male dominance (Koss, 1993; Black 
& Weisz, 2004). 
Although on the surface it might appear that rape is primarily a sex crime, other 
types of motivation also underlie the behavior. In many cases, the rapist uses sex as 
a means of demonstrating power and control over the victim. In such cases, there is 
little that is sexually satisfying about rape to the rapist; instead, the pleasure comes 
from forcing someone else to be submissive (Gowaty, 2003; Yamawaki, Darby, & 
Queiroz, 2007). 
In other cases of rape, the primary motivation is anger. Sexual behavior is used 
to show the rapist’s rage at women in general, usually because of some perceived 
rejection or hurt that he has suffered in the past. Such rapes are likely to include 
physical violence and degrading acts against the victim. 
Some rapes are based on a desire for sexual gratifi cation. Some men hold the 
attitude that it is appropriate and desirable for them to actively seek out sex. To them, 
sexual encounters represent a form of “war” between the sexes—with winners and 
losers—and violence is sometimes considered an appropriate way to obtain what 
they want. According to their reasoning, using force to obtain sexual gratifi cation is 
permissible (Malamuth et al., 1995; Hall, 1996; Mann & Hollin, 2007). 
Finally, there is a common, although unfounded, societal belief that many women 
offer token resistance to sex, saying no to sex when they mean yes. If a man holds 
such a view, he may ignore a woman’s protestations that she doesn’t want sex 
(Anderson, Cooper, & Okamura, 1997; Yost & Zurbriggen, 2006). 
The repercussions of rape are devastating for the victims. During a rape, women 
experience fear, terror, and physical pain. Later, victims report shock, disbelief, panic, 
extreme anxiety, and suspiciousness—reactions that are sometimes intensifi ed by 
implications that somehow the victim was to blame because of her style of dress or 
her presence in the wrong neighborhood. 
The psychological reactions to rape are no different whether it is date rape or 
rape by a stranger. These feelings may continue for years, even though the victim 
outwardly appears to have recovered. However, immediate psychological interven-
tion, such as that provided by rape crisis centers, may help diminish the long-term 
reactions to rape (Monnier et al., 2002; Zaslow, 2003; Ullman & Townsend, 2007; 
Campbell, 2008).