Describe the different categories of rapists as identified by A. Nicholas Groth

What will be an ideal response?


?Rape is primarily an aggressive act and secondarily a sexual act. That is, it is a sexual expression of aggression, not an aggressive expression of sexuality. It is the mismanagement of aggression; the rapist's gratification (if any) comes not from the sexual act but rather from the expression of anger or control through the extreme violation of another's body. There are a number of typologies for classifying rapists, depending on numerous variables. One straight forward model was developed by A. Nicholas Groth who describes rapists as falling into one of three categories: the anger rapist, the power rapist, and the sadistic rapist.
The anger rapist performs his act to discharge feelings of pent-up anger and rage. He is brutal in the commission of his assault, using far more force than is necessary to gain sexual access to his victim. His aim is to hurt and debase his victim; forced sex is his ultimate weapon.
The power rapist is interested in possessing his victim sexually, not harming her. He acts out of underlying feelings of inadequacy and is interested in controlling his victim. He uses only the amount of force necessary to gain her compliance. Sometimes he will kidnap his victim and hold her under his control for a long period of time, perhaps engaging in sexual intercourse with her numerous times.
The sadistic rapist eroticizes aggression; that is, aggressive force creates sexual arousal in him. He is enormously gratified by his victim's torment, pain, and suffering. His offenses often are ritualistic and involve bondage and torture, particularly to the sexual organs.

We live in a society that promotes aggression and represses sexuality. In the United States, males are socialized to be aggressive, even in seeking sexual gratification. According to Janet Hyde, the confusion of sex and aggression in socialization practices may lead males to commit rape.

Social Work & Human Services

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