Causes of Sexual Behavior - Essay Example

? Sex Crimes: Rape, Child Molestation, Sexual Assaults The issue of sex crimes has been contentious for many years. There have been myths about the causes of sexual offending ranging from the view that sexual offending is as a form of hereditary issue to sexual offending being attributed to mental illness. This paper will articulate on the nature of the sex crimes, and psychological, social, biological, and cognitive characteristics of typical sex offenders. Sex Crimes: Rape, Child Molestation, Sexual Assaults There have been various attempts by scholars and researchers to examine modern theories that relate to ass aspects of sexual offending. Some of the aspects that have been under scrutiny include comprehensive explanations of sexual abuse, cognitive distortions, and factors associated with sexual abuse. Some of the results from current studies for causes of sex crimes include genetic predispositions, psychological dispositions/traits factors like attitudes supportive of sexual assaults and empathy deficits, adverse developmental experiences like abuse and rejection, deviant sexual preferences, and interpersonal problems, and social cultural structures and processes (Beauregard & Leclerc, 2007). Psychobiological factors Biological and social learning forms the better part of factors that affects sex offenders. These include genetic and evolutionary factors, cultural environment, and physical environment (Turvey, 2012). Studies have documented that these two sets of developmental resources combine and interact to shape an individual’s unique psychological functioning. It is also believed that cultural and social context in which individuals develop can directly create problems thus increasing their chances of behaving in a dysfunctional way. A good example of such a scenario is when children are exposed to parental violence and abuse, something that can adversely affect their brain development and result in impaired functioning. Conversely, genetic determinants of human function are inextricably linked to evolution. However, evolution comes in two forms; ultimate and proximate. Ultimate explanations include issues such as ancestral environment, natural selection and sexual selection, which attempt to identify the function of a given trait in regard to its role of solving a particular adaptive problem in a given environment (Beauregard & Leclerc, 2007). A proximate explanation focuses on the nature of the causal mechanisms that underpin its current functional role like the person’s gene, learning, their development history, and environmental stimuli. In this regard, sexual offending occurs through the ongoing confluence of distal and proximal factors that interact in a dynamic way. In addition, social learning and neuropsychological systems interact to produce clinical problems found in se offenders such as deviant arousal, social difficulties, and negative/positive emotional states (Turvey, 2012). Genetic determinants of brain development Genetic factor is argued to result in a predisposition to seek certain kinds of basic goods such as sex autonomy mystery. In this regard, causes of sexually aggressive behavior are highly likely to have a naturalistic basis (Ward & Beech, 2006). In addition, the nature of the physical processes associated with the functioning of the brain accounts for neurobiological level analysis. This is determined by types and levels of neurotransmitters, and the integrity of neural structures. Brain processes may be disrupted by brain-based abnormalities. An example of such situations is when persistently high levels of sex hormones increase the salience and availability of sexual goals and dominate their influence in the life of an individual. When this happens, a person becomes preoccupied with sexual urges and needs (Craighead & Nemeroff, 2004). Behavioral factors It is apparent that sex offenders have specific behavioral traits that highly contribute to sex offending. Studies have indicated that there are various things that account for behavior modification. Firstly, according to Craighead & Nemeroff (2004), environmental factors have been cited to have a great share of determining the behavior of an individual. In essence, environmental factors can be predetermined by the socioeconomic status that an individual holds. For example, in lower and middle class communities, individuals are exposed to various challenges that mostly contribute to deviant behaviors. In such settings, individuals find pleasure in sexual activities. This pre-dominates a good number of individuals. In such environments, the level of crime is high as people tend to find any available means to survive. The level of drug and substance abuse is high. People in such settings disregards law and mostly do what they please. As a result, even the children adopt behaviors portrayed by adults. In fact, studies have documented that most parents in such settings use permissive parenting style, whereby children are at liberty to do anything they need. Parents have little or absolutely no control over their children when this happens, children can easily access and read or watch phonographic materials. This ends up preoccupying their minds, something that affect them mentally (Tonry, 2009). In the long-run, this affects their sexual behaviors. They end up committing sex crimes during and after their childhood. In addition, studies have also documented that people living in poor neighborhoods tend to engage in different crimes (Craighead & Nemeroff, 2004). However, it is vital to note that specific sex offender profile does not exist. Many people have a perception that sex offenders possess identifiable traits such as dirty and aggressive. Sex offenders are just like any other person experiencing some mental and psychological problems just like a normal person. Nevertheless, studies have found that some sex offenders have interests in things outside the realm of appropriate sexual interests. This group of sex offenders begins by engaging in acts like participating or experiencing acts of physical aggression, exposing themselves in a public setting, or watching others who are undressing or engaging in sexual activities. Child molestation Studies have found out that the sexual orientation profile is a sequence of glide of men and women subject of variation of ages. It is believed that normal men show progressively arousal with decreasing age (Hallinan, 2009). Pedophiles engage in child molestation because young children are their preferred sexual partners and pedophilic acts are their preferred sexual outlets. However, not all pedophiles show sexual preferences to children. In some instances, revenge, anger and hostility accounts for child molestation in such offenders. Rape According to psychologists, rape is highly connected to some psychological disorders within the offender. However, according to some sociologists, rape is as a result of an expression of gender inequality, permissiveness, and other social factors (Hallinan, 2009). In their argument, sociologists believe that cases of rape occur in societies that men take rejection from women, something that lead to frustrations, which force them to rape. On the other hand, according to feminists, men who commit rape express male dominance over females. Case study: John rapist (hypothetical) In June 20th 2011, California state and the whole of the United States witnessed a stunning drama of one John King, a middle aged man whom people came to know about after serials of sex offending. In essence, people within California used to hear about a certain man that rapped women and molested several children, but never had a chance to apprehend the rapist. It was on a Sunday at around 5 pm when a middle aged woman by the name Jane was approached by a middle aged man pausing as an innocent person seeking for direction to one of the famous hotel. As the woman was directing the man, he immediately drew a gun and forced her to enter into his vehicle, which was packed on the other side of the road. However, patrolling police officers witnessed the incidence and decided to follow the vehicle. The vehicle was trailed to its destination. Nevertheless, John had his residential house at the outcasts of Los Angeles city where he drove. After entering his compound, he immediately locked the gate and started to rape Jane right in the car. By the time the police managed to break the gate, Jane was screaming at the top of her voice. Neighbors had already gathered outside John’s compound. There was a drama as the man ordered everybody to go away and threatened to kill her if they fail to do so. Fortunately, one of the police officers managed to hind behind the vehicle and slowly crawled next to John. He grabbed the gun and ordered him to move out of the car. Jane was taken to hospital while John was arrested and taken to police cell for more investigations. According to the police report, John admitted to have had committed several sex offending within California state. He admitted to have had raped 8 women. In addition, he admitted to have had murdered one of his victims after she resisted his demands. He had dumped her body in a sewer line some few kilometers from his home. After he was taken to court, the judge ordered John’s medical report. The report indicated that John was suffering from anti social personality disorder. It was established that John was experienced torture from his step mother when he was young. In addition, his father was a cruel man and he experienced all forms of abuse from him. The report also indicated that John viewed himself as being inferior after experiencing a series of rejection from several women. When delivering his Judgment, the judge noted that although John had been found to have a psychological disorder, he remained a threat to the community. He sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment with subject to mental and psychological treatments. Biological and cognitive processes in John’s aggression and violence Although many people would associate John’s aggression with that of his father, and probably being hereditary, there is no single study that has ever elucidated on the issue of aggression and violence in relation to the behavior being hereditary. A study by Konrad Lorenz on the science of behavioral biology indicated that aggression is behavior triggered by specific external stimuli following a progressive accumulation of aggression energy within the person (Hogg & Cooper, 2003). In this regard, it can be argued that John obtained his aggressive trait from his father, not through hereditary, rather through accumulation of cases he witnessed the aggressiveness of his father. On the other hand, in reference to cognitive processes, developmental studies have developed models that provide a coherent way to explain aggression. These models are based on the assumption that human memory can be represented as a complex associative network of nodes representing cognitive concepts and emotions. According to these models, experience leads to the development of links among the elemental nodes. When there is a total accumulation of experiences, the knowledge structure is activated and used. This is when the individual starts exhibiting peculiar behaviors related to his or her experiences (Ward & Beech, 2006). In the case of John, it is apparent that the cognitive process of aggression and violence was as a result of accumulation of his father’s violent behavior. This can be seen by his deeds especially when he killed a woman that refused to consent to his demands. In fact, even after being surrounded by the police and ordered to surrender, John did not give in easily. He had the guts to threaten the police and all other persons present at that time. In regard, to his sex offending, it is believed that cultural and social context individuals experience greatly influence them in behaving in a dysfunctional way. John’s step mother mistreated him during his childhood, something that can be argued to have a negative attitude towards women. In another dimension, according to some sociologists, rape is due to an expression of gender permissiveness, and other social factors (Hogg & Cooper, 2003). In this regard, John disclosed to have been rejected by many women, something that could have lowered his self esteem. He viewed himself inferior and not worth to have any woman. In fact, this can be analyzed to mean that he opted for rape in order to prove women wrong, and to quench his sexual arousal. In addition, feminists believe that men who commit rape express the notion of male dominance over women. Conclusion Some of the results from current studies for causes of sex crimes include genetic predispositions and psychological dispositions/traits. Biological and social learning forms the better part of factors that affects sex offenders. Studies have documented that these two sets of developmental resources combine and interact to shape an individual’s unique psychological functioning. Social learning and neuropsychological systems interact to produce clinical problems found in se offenders such as deviant arousal, social difficulties, and negative/positive emotional states. Causes of sexually aggressive behavior are highly likely to have a naturalistic basis. In addition, environmental factors have been cited to have a great share of determining the behavior of se offenders. In regard to the case study, John obtained his aggressive trait from his father, not through hereditary, rather through accumulation of cases he witnessed the aggressiveness of his father. The cognitive process of aggression and violence was as a result of accumulation of his father’s violent behavior. References: Beauregard, E & Leclerc, B. (2007). An Application of the Rational Choice Approach to the Offending Process of Sex Offenders: A Closer Look at the Decision-making. Sex Abuse, 19: 115-133. Hogg, M & Cooper, J. (2003). Handbook of Social Psychology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Icn. Ward, T & Beech, A. (2006). An integrated theory of sexual offending. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11: 44–63. Turvey, B. (2012). Criminal profiling: an introduction to behavioral evidence analysis. Amsterdam: Burlington, MA: Academic Press. Craighead, E & Nemeroff, C. (2004). The concise Corsini encyclopedia of psychology and behavioral science. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons. Hallinan, W. (2009). Sex Offenders Subtype by Lifestyle and Social Adjustment. New York: ProQuest. Tonry, M. (2009). The Oxford handbook of crime and public policy. Oxford [England]; New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press. Read More