Warning signs

It is very difficult to predict who may or may not be a potential rapist. Considering rapists have many personality types and use many different methods, it might seem impossible. However, there are certain behavioral characteristics that rapists usually embody when their behavior is scrutinized. These same characteristics are found in most criminals and people with abusive personalities.

• Extreme emotional insensitivity and egotism.
• Habitual degradation and verbal devaluation of others.
• Tries to tell others what they are feeling and thinking as though it is his decision and not theirs. "She said no, but she meant yes".
• Consistently uses intimidation in language or threatening behavior to get his way. Uses words like "bitch" and "whore" to describe women.
• Excessive, chronic, or brooding anger.
• Becomes obsessed with the object of his romantic affections long after his advances have been rejected.
• Extreme mood swings.
• Violent outbursts; lack of impulse control.
• Macho mentality; aggressive and violent.
• Under the influence of alcohol or drugs, cruel behavior is seen.

One "warning sign" is noteworthy not because it has ever been demonstrated to be an accurate indicator of a propensity to rape, but because it has been and is so widely assumed to be such a warning sign. This is the presence of sexual fantasies about rape; many people assume that those who are aroused by rape fantasies must be more likely than others to commit the actual act. This does not correspond with observed scientific evidence, however; while rapists usually fantasize about rape, so do many normal and psychologically healthy people. In fact, many law enforcement officials regard an inability to use sexual fantasies for gratification as a more alarming warning sign than the presence of sexual fantasies of rape or sadism. Finally, the assumption that anyone who fantasizes about committing rape is likely to commit it in real life ignores the fact that millions of normal people, men and women, fantasize about being raped without wanting it to happen in reality. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape#Warning_signs [Nov 2004]

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