NCJ Number
85577
Journal
Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science Volume: 12 Issue: 4 Dated: (1980) Pages: 359-372
Date Published
1980
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The current reformation of the Canadian legal definition of rape proposes that rape is an act of assault (motivated by aggression). However, if rape is to be redefined legally, more controlled research on rape is needed to dispel prevalent misconceptions.
Abstract
Psychological literature has, until recently, considered rape a sex act and has assumed that the motivation of rapists is sexual in nature. This paper reviews the rape literature in terms of such 'motivations.' An overview shows that the attribution of motives has resulted in unnecessary confusion and contradictions. Studies based on nonmotivational premises (attitude studies) seem to avoid the confusion by classifying rapists according to their responses rather than their motivations. Research findings on rapists, a typology of rapists, 3 reference notes, and about 55 references are supplied. (Author abstract modified)