“It Wasn’t Rape”: Rapists’ Neutralizing Techniques for Sexual Assault

• In Event: Specifying the Relationship between Delinquent Attitudes, Neutralization Techniques and Delinquency

Abstract

This paper seeks to expand upon the literature on the techniques of neutralization and sexual assault by analyzing excuses and justifications of people who self-report engaging in some type of sexual assault. The topic is well situated in the theoretical and empirical literature, and will extend this literature by using a unique sample: both males and females who admit to sexually assaulting an acquaintance, and who have not been convicted, and are not incarcerated, for their crimes. This is markedly different from most previous studies that have used samples of convicted, incarcerated male rapists. Data for this study were drawn from an internet discussion board, Reddit.com, and consists of more than 30 in-depth accounts. The authors will analyze the respondents’ stories of the sexual assaults that they committed, victims’ perceptions of their offenders’ motivations, and comments from others who mention motivations and/or neutralizations, and code these responses into thematic categories. Preliminary analyses indicate that many of the respondents use techniques of neutralization to excuse and/or justify their behavior to themselves and others.

Authors

• Alicia Jurek, Sam Houston State University

• Jurg Gerber, Sam Houston State University