Rape Perpetration: A Review July 2012 Acknowledgements This report was written by Professor Rachel Jewkes, SVRI Secretary, and Director, Gender and Health Research Unit, Medical Research Council. Thanks go to members of the Sexual Violence Research Initiative Coordinating Group and Secretariat for their expert review of the paper, including Jill Astbury; Gary Barker; Claudia Garcia-Moreno; Alessandra Guedes; M.E. Khan; Nduku Kilonzo; Tandiar Samir; Linda Williams; Elizabeth Dartnall and Lizle Loots. This paper was made possible through funding and support from the Oak Foundation and the South African Medical Research Council. Suggested citation: Jewkes, R. (2012) Rape Perpetration: A review. Pretoria, Sexual Violence Research Initiative. Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 1.1. Prevalence of rape globally .................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 2. Methods and methodologies .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 2.1. Methods of the review ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 2.2. Methods used in the studies reviewed ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.3. Terms, definitions and measures ......................................................................................................................................................................8 2.3.1. Distinguishing offender groups based on victim age .............................................................................................. 9 2.3.2. Research on incarcerated populations ................................................................................................................................10 2.3.3. Age and sex offending .........................................................................................................................................................................10 2.3.4. Male or female victims ..........................................................................................................................................................................10 2.3.5. Serial rape and recidivism ...................................................................................................................................................................11 2.3.6. Multiple perpetrator versus single perpetrator rape ..................................................................................................11 3. Factors associated with rape perpetration ...........................................................................................................................................................12 3.1. Biology .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................12 3.1.1. Role of genotype .......................................................................................................................................................................................12 3.1.2. Neurological deficits ...............................................................................................................................................................................14 3.2. Childhood and families ..............................................................................................................................................................................................15 3.2.1. Child sexual abuse victimisation .................................................................................................................................................15 3.2.2. Experience of physical and emotional abuse and neglect................................................................................15 3.2.3. Parental separation and out of home placements ....................................................................................................16 3.2.4. Parental intimate partner violence (IPV) ...............................................................................................................................16 3.2.5. Poverty and social disadvantage ...............................................................................................................................................16 3.3. Mental health and IQ ...................................................................................................................................................................................................17 3.3.1. Psychological problems in sexual offenders ...................................................................................................................17 3.3.2. Personality ........................................................................................................................................................................................................18 3.3.3. Attachment .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20 3.3.4. Intelligence and sex offending ......................................................................................................................................................21 3.4. Peer pressure and delinquency ........................................................................................................................................................................21 3.4.1. Social learning and peer pressure ............................................................................................................................................21 3.4.2. Delinquent behaviour ........................................................................................................................................................................... 22 3.5. Gender inequitable masculinities: Ideas and practices ............................................................................................................ 23 3.5.1. Gender attitudes ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.5.2. Intimate partner violence .................................................................................................................................................................. 24 3.5.3. Sexual entitlement .................................................................................................................................................................................. 24 3.5.4. Emphasised heterosexuality ......................................................................................................................................................... 25 3.5.5. Early sexual initiation ............................................................................................................................................................................ 25 3.6. Sexuality: Fantasy and arousal ........................................................................................................................................................................ 26 3.6.1. Deviant sexual fantasies ................................................................................................................................................................... 26 3.6.2. Deviant sexual arousal ....................................................................................................................................................................... 27 3.6.3. Pornography ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 27 3.7. Substance abuse and firearms........................................................................................................................................................................ 27 3.7.1. Alcohol use .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27 3.7.2. Drug use .........................................................................................................................................................................................................