There are many different theories explaining the Causes of sexual violence.

The theories that will

be discussed in this article include military conquest, socioeconomics, anger, power, sadism, traits,
ethical standards, laws, and evolutionary pressures that lend some explanation to the causes of
sexual violence (such as rape, molestation, sexual harassment, stalking, incest, etc.[1]). Please note,
most of the research on the causes of sexual violence has only been done on male offenders (and
has largely ignored female perpetrated sexual violence) and is in no way fully developed[2].

Anger rape[edit]
See also: Corrective rape
The goal of this rapist is to humiliate, debase and hurt their victim; they express their contempt for
their victim through physical violence and profane language. For these rapists, sex is a weapon to
defile and degrade the victim, rape constitutes the ultimate expression of their anger. This rapist
considers rape the ultimate offense they can commit against the victim.
Anger rape is characterized by physical brutality, much more physical force is used during the
assault than would be necessary if the intent were simply to overpower the victim and achieve
penetration. This type of offender attacks their victim by grabbing, striking and knocking the victim to
the ground, beating them, tearing their clothes, and raping them.

The experience for the offender is one that is of conscious anger and rage.[4]

ower assertive rapist[edit]

For these rapists, rape becomes a way to compensate for their underlying feelings of inadequacy
and feeds their issues of mastery, control, dominance, strength, intimidation, authority and capability.
The intent of the power rapist is to assert their competency. The power rapist relies upon verbal
threats, intimidation with a weapon, and only uses the amount of force necessary to subdue the
victim.
The power rapist tends to have fantasies about sexual conquests and rape. They may believe that
even though the victim initially resists them, that once they overpower their victim, the victim will
eventually enjoy the rape. The rapist believes that the victim enjoyed what was done to them, and
they may even ask the victim to meet them for a date later. (Citation needed)
Because this is only a fantasy, the rapist does not feel reassured for long by either their own
performance or the victim's response. The rapist feels that they must find another victim, convinced
that this victim will be "the right one".
Hence, their offenses may become repetitive and compulsive. They may commit a series of rapes
over a short period of time.[6]

Sadistic rape[edit]
For these rapists, they have a sexual association with anger and power so that aggression and the
infliction of pain itself are eroticized. For this rapist, sexual excitement is associated with the inflicting
of pain upon their victim. The offender finds the intentional maltreatment of their victim intensely
gratifying and takes pleasure in the victim's torment, pain, anguish, distress, helplessness, and
suffering;[7] they find the victim's struggling with them to be an erotic experience.
The sadistic rapist's assaults are deliberate, calculated, and preplanned. They will often wear a
disguise or will blindfold their victims.[7] Prostitutes or other people whom they perceive to be
vulnerable are often the sadistic rapist's targets. The victims of a sadistic rapist may not survive the
attack. For some offenders, the ultimate satisfaction is gained from murdering the victim.[4]

The propensity models of sexual aggression[edit]

The propensity approach to sexual aggression focuses on the traits (features that are stable and
fixed over time) that can increase the probability that someone will commit an act of sexual
violence[8].

Cognitive and attitudinal biases[edit]

The cognitive traits and attitudinal biases associated with a propensity to commit acts of sexual
aggression come from socio-cultural research and says that forms of sexual aggression come from
false beliefs of gender relations, misdirected objectives (i.e. only dating to have sex), and erroneous
impressions of social interactions (linked to gender relations)[9]. Research focusing specifically on
gender relations within the context of sexual assault have found that conformance to notions of male
entitlement, suspicion of the opposite sex, perceiving violence as a reasonable method for solving
problems, and holding the traditional patriarchal attitudes that specific societal roles belong to
specific genders are found to adhere to the concept of male entitlement/superiority (in the context of
gender relations)[10]. The cognitive biases that add to one's propensity to commit acts of sexual
violence include the belief that women are sex objects; men’s sexual drive is uncontrollable; a
feeling of entitlement (entitlement to sex); society is dangerous; and that women are unpredictable
and dangerous[11] .

Neuropsychological processes[edit]
The neuropsychological deficits that may contribute to a propensity for sexual assault include
difficulties in self-regulation, executive functioning problems, perception/memory system problems,
arousal/motivation system deficits, and problems in the action selection system[12]. The difficulties
arise when sexual aggressors aren’t able to understand their emotional states and when confronted
with a situation that trigger their arousal/motivation systems, they become confused and may have
issues controlling their behavior[13]. An inability to adapt plans to deal with unforeseen situations or
having limited problem-solving skills (the action selection system) and maintaining maladaptive
beliefs categorized by erroneous interpretations of social encounters (perception/memory systems)
can also contribute to a greater susceptibility to commit acts of sexual violence[14].

Deviant sexual preferences[edit]

Research focusing on the deviant sexual preferences propensity model suggests that people who
perpetrate acts of sexual violence are sexually aroused by non-consensual sexual interactions more
than consensual sexual interactions. The research that seeks to support this model (penile
plethysmography) has not been able to reliably find differences in the two different groups of males
(those who have committed acts of sexual aggression and those who have not)[15]. Instead, the
studies are providing more evidence for the cognitive, attitudinal, neuropsychological, and lifestyle
differences that impact sexual arousal in certain situations, rather than a deviant sexual preference
leading to a higher propensity for sexual violence [16][17].

Personality disorders and traits[edit]

The last propensity model of sexual violence views the perpetrators of sexual violence through 3
lenses of different personality traits, with interpersonal functioning being the most important factor in
whether a person will have a higher propensity for sexual violence. This model is based on the idea
that sexual aggression is indicative of problems starting and managing enjoyable intimate
relationships[18].

Insecure attachment lens[edit]

The insecure attachment style lens stems from research done on sexual aggressors that
characterized them as people who had insecure attachment styles (as a result of child abuse,
parental divorce, etc.) manifested as low self-esteem, an inability to develop relationships with
others, and significant emotional loneliness[19]. Through the lens of this model, sexual aggression is
used as a faulty means of fulfilling intimacy needs.

Antisocial personality traits/quadripartite lens[edit]

The antisocial personality lens stems from a study done by Hall and Hirschman (1991)[20] and
emphasizes the subsequent consequences of experiencing adversities/abuses in childhood, which
can lead to the development of antisocial personality traits in adulthood. The antisocial personality
traits combine with contextual, emotional (rage/anger), cognitive (irrational thoughts that influence
emotions), and physiological (deviant sexual arousal) factors that increase the probability of
committing sexual violence[21].

Narcissistic personality lens[edit]

Lastly, the narcissistic lens emphasizes the assumption that individuals with narcissistic personality
traits are more likely to interpret refusal of sexual advances as insults, and in turn will have an
adverse reaction to such insults (narcissistic injury)[22]. This lens is best used when describing
sexual violence that includes known victims (such as incest, date rape, domestic abuse, etc.)
because it is not able to adequately explain sexual violence such as stranger rape