Chad is a 45-year-old man currently in prison for raping 3 women. Chad had met these women on separate occasions at a bar. In each case, he put Rohypnol in their drinks when they were not looking. He would wait for the drugs to take effect and then take each of his victims to the bathroom and rape them. He reported the rapes were about feeling powerful, and he liked feeling as if he had control over these women.
Write a 500 (word paper on the etiology behind the sexually deviant behavior in this case) - the case above about Chad!
Include the following:
Describe the sexually deviant behavior.
Choose 2 theories for possible causes of the behavior. Identify precursors from the case study to support your ideas.
Compare the tenets of each theory, and explain how they apply to the case study.
Full Answer Section
Learning Theory
The learning theory of sexual deviance is based on the idea that people learn to associate certain stimuli with sexual arousal. For example, a child who is sexually abused may learn to associate certain body parts or sexual activities with pleasure. These associations can lead to deviant sexual behavior in adulthood.
In Chad's case, it is possible that he learned to associate violence and power with sexual arousal. This could have happened if he was exposed to sexual violence as a child or if he witnessed violence against women in his adult life.
Cognitive-Behavioral Theory
The cognitive-behavioral theory of sexual deviance is based on the idea that people's thoughts and beliefs about sex can influence their behavior. For example, a person who believes that it is acceptable to force sex on someone may be more likely to engage in rape.
In Chad's case, it is possible that he has distorted thoughts and beliefs about sex. For example, he may believe that women are inferior to men and that they deserve to be treated with violence. He may also believe that he is entitled to have sex with anyone he wants, regardless of their consent.
Precursors from the Case Study
There are a few precursors from the case study that support the learning theory and the cognitive-behavioral theory of sexual deviance.
Learning Theory
- Chad reported that he liked feeling powerful and in control when he raped his victims. This suggests that he may have learned to associate violence and power with sexual arousal.
- It is possible that Chad was exposed to sexual violence as a child or that he witnessed violence against women in his adult life. This could have led him to learn that sexual violence is acceptable behavior.
Cognitive-Behavioral Theory
- Chad reported that he liked feeling as if he had control over his victims. This suggests that he may believe that women are inferior to men and that they deserve to be treated with violence.
- He may also believe that he is entitled to have sex with anyone he wants, regardless of their consent. These distorted thoughts and beliefs about sex could lead him to engage in rape.
Comparison of Tenets of Each Theory
The learning theory and the cognitive-behavioral theory of sexual deviance share some similarities. Both theories emphasize the role of learning in the development of sexually deviant behavior. However, there are also some important differences between the two theories.
The learning theory is more focused on the role of classical conditioning and operant conditioning in the development of sexually deviant behavior. Classical conditioning is a type of learning in which a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response. Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which behavior is reinforced or punished.
The cognitive-behavioral theory is more focused on the role of thoughts and beliefs in the development of sexually deviant behavior. This theory suggests that people's thoughts and beliefs about sex can influence their behavior.
Application of the Theories to the Case Study
The learning theory and the cognitive-behavioral theory can both be applied to Chad's case.
Learning Theory
The learning theory suggests that Chad may have learned to associate violence and power with sexual arousal. This could have happened if he was exposed to sexual violence as a child or if he witnessed violence against women in his adult life.
The learning theory can also explain why Chad reported that he liked feeling in control when he raped his victims. He may have learned that sexual violence is a way to exert power and control over others.
Cognitive-Behavioral Theory
The cognitive-behavioral theory suggests that Chad may have distorted thoughts and beliefs about sex. For example, he may believe that women are inferior to men and that they deserve to be treated with violence. He may also believe that he is entitled to have sex with anyone he wants, regardless of their consent.
These distorted thoughts and beliefs about sex could lead Chad to engage in rape. For example, he may believe that he is not doing anything wrong because he is simply taking what he wants.
Conclusion
The learning theory and the cognitive-behavioral theory are two theories that can be applied to Chad's case. The learning theory suggests that Chad may have learned to associate violence and power with sexual arousal. The cognitive-behavioral theory suggests that Chad may have distorted thoughts and beliefs about sex.
Both of these theories can be used to develop treatment plans for Chad. For example, he could participate in therapy to learn new ways of thinking about sex and to develop healthier ways of coping with stress and anger.