Individual sexual violence and group sexual violence: what are they?

These two types of sources of danger present differences studied from the perspective of Forensic Psychology.

Talking about sexual violence can be controversial, given the impact it has on society and due to the popular beliefThe term "sexual violence" can be controversial, given the impact it has on society and due to the popular belief historically transmitted on the subject.

When we hear any news about a sexual assault, we automatically imagine a male individual, with some mental disorder and somewhat maladjusted from society, stalking in the dark a young girl he does not know to force her sexually in some hidden place and we are very surprised to discover that in the vast majority of cases, this is not what happens.

Some statistics to understand the problem

According to a macro-survey conducted by the government in 2017, in only 18% of cases is the sexual assault carried out by a stranger, which means that 82% of sexual assaults are carried out by persons known to the victim.This means that 82% of sexual assaults are carried out by people known to the victim.

Another relevant fact highlighted by the report on multiple sexual assaults in Spain (2016-2018) is that in 98% of cases the aggressors are male, aged between 18 and 47 years, and the female victims between 18 and 32 years on average. Likewise, the most common scenarios where the aggressions took place were the street and the victim's home, with the same percentage of 27%.

It is worth mentioning, however, that in sexual assaults carried out by strangers, more violence tends to be exercised against the victim, the perpetrator tends to use more violence against the victim and the victim's experience tends to be derived and the experience of this usually leads to a greater feeling of helplessness and fear for the victim's own survival.

How to explain the motivation to sexually assault?

It is difficult to profile a sexual offender, although some common traits can be established.

They are people of normal appearance with average intelligence, from all cultural, religious and economic groups, who do not necessarily present a pathological condition.They come from all cultural, religious and economic groups, and do not necessarily present a psychiatric pathology. Although they may present traits of neuroticism, introversion, immaturity, egocentrism and low self-esteem. However, these traits alone would not be sufficient or determinant for committing a sexual aggression.

Other factors must also be considered, such as poor learning of behavioral inhibitionPoor parental educational models, severe and inconsistent parental discipline, aggressive and/or alcoholic parents, physical and sexual abuse in childhood and notable social deficits, which prevent them from establishing age-appropriate relationships.

Likewise, the act of committing a crime of a sexual nature may be preceded by prolonged emotional states of stress, sexual arousal, outbursts of anger may be preceded by emotional states of prolonged stress, sexual arousal, outbursts of anger, alcohol abuse, and moods such as depression, anxiety, anger, or loneliness, or the interplay of one or more of these factors.In addition, the commission of a sexual offense may be preceded by prolonged stress, sexual arousal, outbursts of anger, alcohol abuse, and moods such as depression, anxiety, anger or loneliness, or the interrelation of one or more of these factors.

Finally, it is worth mentioning two important aspects inherent to the exercise of any type of violence: a distorted thinking that can justify at a rational level the behavior carried out and minimize the damage caused to the victim and a context or circumstances conducive to carry out the aggression.

What about group sexual aggressions?

What has been exposed so far would serve to explain the sexual aggressions that are produced by a single individual with the intention of satisfying his sexual desires and fantasies, but... what happens in other cases?

Until a couple of years ago sexual assaults carried out in groups were not contemplated in studies and were almost invisible to society. and were almost invisible to society. Since 2016, we are witnessing an increase in reports of gang rapes, from 15 cases reported in that year to 25 cases, between January and June 2018. Despite this increase in reports, we still do not have data to help us clarify why these types of aggressions occur.

According to experts, a paradoxical fact takes place in gang rapes; most of the members of an aggressor group would never rape alone.It is not necessary for the subject to be a psychopath, a sadist or an antisocial person to be involved in a group action of this type, a fact that differentiates and distances them from the profile of a sexual aggressor.

In an attempt to explain this phenomenon, Dr. N. G. Berrill, a forensic psychologist, states that gang rapes are often carried out by young adults and argues that "there is something related to the typical social psychology of these groups that could contextualize violent group behaviors that would otherwise be inexplicable".

Other authors, such as Dr. Oliveros's group, support the hypothesis of group influence and cohesion as explanatory of the realization of sexual aggressions, arguing that adolescents and young adults are in stages of life in which the sense of belonging to the group, the importance of reputation and submission to the leader acquire an extraordinary relevance.

Returning to the aforementioned Dr. Berrill argues that the fact that gang rapists are male is not a product of chance, since the threat of feeling rejected or censured by their peers is sufficient motivation for some young men to commit rape.

However, the author also points to a neurological underdevelopment, characteristic of this evolutionary stage. The frontal lobe, where the executive functions, such as the distinction between right and wrong, are located, is still developing.

On the other hand, something in which all authors agree is to point out drugs and alcohol as factors that increase the risk of committing a group sexual aggression. On the other hand, one of the most significant characteristics of violent behavior in a group setting is that responsibility for one's own actions is diluted and does not fall on and does not fall on oneself, but on all members.

Concluding

In spite of the above, there seems to be a lack of arguments to explain this type of aggression and the weight of traditional, patriarchal and macho culture. the weight of traditional, patriarchal and macho culture in the commission of this type of crime.Are they an attempt to demonstrate male superiority? An attempt to subjugate women? Experts in gender violence advocate this hypothesis, even so, we are faced with a phenomenon that is difficult to explain.

Bibliographical references:

• Alarcón, T. (2017). Madrid. Europapress: Violencia sexual en España. From statistical silence to noise in the streets. Retrieved from: Http://europapress.es.
• Atencio, G. (2016-2018). Sexual geoviolence. Multiple sexual assaults in Spain. Retrieved from Htt://geoviolencienciasexual.com.
• Castro, M.; López, A.; Sueiro, E. (2009). Psychopathological profile of sexual aggressors. Notebooks of psychosomatic medicine and psychiatry. Retrieved from: Http://editorialmedica.com.
• Garza, J.; Diaz-Michel, E. (1996). Elements for the study of rape. Retrieved from Http://www.scielosp.org
• Oliveros, S. (2018). Dr. Oliveros Group. Gang rapists: group dynamics and clinical features. Retrieved from Http://www.grupodoctoroliveros.com
• WHO. (2013). Understanding and addressing violence against women. Retrieved from: Http://apps.who.int.
• Ramirez, C. (2018). Hufftingtonpost. The Other Herds: Reports of group sexual assaults soar in 2018. Retrieved from: Http://www.hufftingtonpost.es
• The U.S. Department of justice. NSOPW. Raising awareness about sexual abuse. Facts and statistics. Retrieved from Http://www.nsopw.gov
• Tourjée, D. (2016). what causes some young people to gang rape? Retrieved from Http://www.vice.com