Introduction

In this chapter, I propose to consider the psychology of nonconsensual sex from the perspective of the perpetrator. It might be thought that we cannot understand the experience of nonconsensual sexual relations without first defining its contours so that we know what range of cases we should consider. I disagree. We can start with the paradigmatic case of forcible rape, about which there is little doubt as to its nonconsensuality. We will then be better positioned to consider the host of theoretical issues that motivate this project.

Sex or violence?

It might be thought, however, that I have begged another crucial question by referring to rape as nonconsensual sex. For it is frequently said that “rape is about violence, not about sex.”(RVNS). Unpacking RVNS will set the stage for the discussion to follow, so I want to consider it in some detail. Here are some typical statements chosen almost (but not quite) at random.