Sexual Coercion

Abstract

We highlight evolutionary psychological perspectives on sexual coercion, with consideration to hypotheses regarding evolved mechanisms for both males and females. We suggest that over evolutionary history, the possibility of being raped is liable to have been a particularly costly adaptive risk for females relative to the potential adaptive gains for men of being able to impose their will by forcing sexual intercourse. We therefore expect that clearer evidence can be found in women for evolved psychological mechanisms designed to limit the costs of such forced sexual mating than evidence supporting the existence of specialized mechanisms in men. A growing body of research on females' counteradaptations designed to minimize the cost imposed by males' coercion, including studies on the effects of ovulatory cycle status, indeed largely supports the existence of evolved specialized mechanisms in females designed to avoid being sexually coerced. Furthermore, we do find some supportive evidence for the possibility that for males, sexual arousal to force may be an evolved specialized mechanism that under certain conditions may serve as an approach emotion designed to increase the likelihood of engaging in sexually coercive behavior. We outline a model, the evolutionary functional model, whichconsiders the possibility that some perceived negative reactions from females may calibratethis mechanism for some men in a direction more conducive to engaging in coercion. We summarize how this model has fared in its predictions in contrast to other models focusing only on proximate causes as well as to a by‐product evolutionary model.

Risk factors of sexual violence perpetration and victimization among adolescents: A study of Norwegian high school students

“…Official statistics shows that the typical perpetrator of sexual violence is a young man and that there are strong gender differences in rapes committed and other forms of sexual violence (Morgan & Oudekerk, 2019). Despite national differences in sexual violence prevalence, 1 and level of gender equality (World Economic Forum, 2020), these sex differences hold up across cultures (Huppin & Malamuth, 2016). Further, young women seem to be disproportionally subject to sexual aggression 2 (Kruse, Strandmoen & Skjørten, 2013).…”

Confluence Model

“…Throughout history, the typical perpetrator of sexual coercion is a male. Self-reports show that men are far more often perpetrators, and women targets of sexual coercion, and that this sex difference holds up across cultures (Huppin and Malamuth 2016). The Confluence Model of sexual coercion combines evolutionary and feminist approaches in an attempt to cover more ground than any competing single factor models that stems from either feminist or evolutionary theory.…”

“…The general framework of the model has been applied to the study of sexual coercion that involve sexual behaviors whereby one of the individuals does not fully consent to the acts. Sexual coercion covers the use of physical force, threat, deception, or intimidation (Huppin and Malamuth 2016). Examples cover forced kissing and touching, verbal derogation, sexual rumoring, showing sexually explicit pictures or objects, threats to end relationship, and insisting on having sex.…”