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- Title
The Rationality of Sexual Offending: Testing a Deterrence/Rational Choice Conception of Sexual Assault.
- Authors
Bachman, Ronet; Paternoster, Raymond; Ward, Sally
- Abstract
The article presents a study that examines those factors that may constrain persons from committing acts of sexual assault by using a combination of hypothetical scenarios and survey-type questions. The issue of deterring rape and other sexual assaults is a particularly important one because sexual offenses are both brutalizing and common events for women in the society. The problem of sexual assault on college campuses, while not new, has taken on added importance in recent years. Those who commit sexual assault are, often characterized as motivated more by sexual urges or aggressive drives than by a deliberate and rational calculation of consequences. Although state and federal legislation may require the publication of campus crime rates, this is not enough. Such efforts may deter some females from attending particular colleges but will do little to deter some men from committing sexual assault. The research has indicated that sexual assault may be inhibited by a two-pronged approach. One would involve an appeal to morality by educating males that unwanted sexual intercourse under any condition is an act of violence and a morally deplorable offense. A second approach would be through the threat and imposition of formal punishment.
- Subjects
CRIMES against women; PUNISHMENT in crime deterrence; OFFENSES against the person; SEX crimes; LEGISLATIVE bills; CRIMINAL law
- Publication
Law & Society Review, 1992, Vol 26, Issue 2, p343
- ISSN
0023-9216
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2307/3053901