u09d2 Rape Behavior

Discuss the types of attitudes within a culture or an individual that might foster or reinforce rape behavior. You are a contract therapist with a local prison system. A man has been referred to you after his conviction for rape. Explore how you would begin treatment with this individual and post your comments on his treatment.

There is little doubt among researchers that American culture is replete with images and attitudes of male sexual dominance over women. Brownmiller, (1975) labeled it a male rape culture inundated with depictions of the fantasies of men as the sexual hero and sexual aggressor, and the womens attractiveness to men is enhanced by showing vulnerability and playing the victim. Moreover the sexual objectification of the female image through the media adds to the tendency of American culture to depict women as vulnerable sex objects. Sub culturally speaking, Latino mens socialization for example, has traditionally incorporated patriarchal images of power, seduction and domination and some machismo traits may be observed in Latino men in different degrees. Objectification theory asserts that women are uniquely subject to sociocultural norms and experiences in which the female body is evaluated and treated as a sexual object to be used by others (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997). This type of cultural saturation of the female image can socialize men to internalize and sexually objectify the female body. Although researchers frequently debate on the causality of pornography and violent sex crimes, there is widespread agreement that the availability, type and frequent use of pornography is addictive, sexually objectifies the female image and desensitizes an individual to sexual assault (Bensimon, 2007). Do women have rape fantasies? Rathus, Nevid & Fichner-Rathus,(2004), suggests that the myth that women desire to be overpowered by men and forced into sex is a myth. By way of contrast, Critelli & Bivona (2008) in a meta analysis on research of womens erotic rape fantasies points out that most research indicates the majority of women do have rape fantasies. Current research indicates that from 31% to 57% of women have had rape fantasies, with 9% to 17% reporting that rape fantasies are either a frequent occurrence or a favorite fantasy. Furthermore, considering that rape fantasies are perceived as socially unacceptable these are most likely underestimated. Theories abound as to why women have rape fantasies, but more research is needed. It is very possible however, that rape fantasies and scripts may contribute to the sexual objectification of women. Criteria for evaluating a convicted rapist would first involve discussion and assessment of the following factors: limits of confidentiality, sexual history, developmental and family history, social skills history, frequency and type comorbid paraphilic behavior, acceptance of criminal responsibility, history and current coping and mood management mechanisms. Current coping strategies are critical in a prison environment since sexual assault and sex for protection is often resident within the prison culture (Thompson, 2009). Treatment solutions for convicted rapists should be multifaceted, holistic, case specific and not confined to any particular treatment methodology. Treatment methodologies such as

psychotherapy, developmental psychology, transpersonal psychology, Gestalt therapy, cognitivebehavioral therapy, and even medicalized treatment can all be used, depending on the specific case, in a holistic treatment approach over a prolonged treatment period. Relapse prevention strategies in the treatment of sexual offenders require that clients develop an extensive set of avoidance plans of external and internal states that may raise the risk to reoffend (Marshall, Marshall & Serran, 2006). After treatment care is critical as sex offenders need further treatment, supervision and community support once released into a community. Anthony Rhodes General Psychology Ph.D References Bensimon, P. (2007). The Role of Pornography in Sexual Offending. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 14(2), 95-117. doi:10.1080/10720160701310468 Brownmiller, S. (1975). Against our will: Men, women, and rape. New York: Simon & Schuster. Critelli, J. W., & Bivona, J. M. (2008). Women's Erotic Rape Fantasies: An Evaluation of Theory and Research. Journal of Sex Research, 45(1), 57-70. doi:10.1080/00224490701808191 Fredrickson, B. L., & Roberts, T. (1997). Objectification theory: Toward understanding womens of womens lived experiences and mental health risks, Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21, 173206. Marshall, W. L., Marshall, L. E., & Serran, G. A. (2006). Strategies in the Treatment of Paraphilias: A Critical Review. Annual Review of Sex Research, 17162-182. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Rathus, S. A., Nevid, J. S., & Fichner-Rathus, L. (2004). Human sexuality in a world of diversity (6th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. ISBN: 0205406157. Thompson, A. C. (2009). What Happens Behind Locked Doors: The Difficulty of Addressing and Eliminating Rape in Prison. New England Journal on Criminal & Civil Confinement, 35(1), 119-176. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.