What makes someone become a rapist or a sadist?

Question

I know it's about control, but what in the rapist/sadist's life or upbringing would make them want to seek out power in that way?

I have some possible theories:

1. the rapist/sadist grew up with a father that was aggressive & a control freak with his family & the rapist learned that behavior since many kids pick up traits from parents

2. the rapist/sadist grew up with a domineering mother who overpowered their father; the mother was abusive & the child decided to pay back the favor against others, to prove to him/herself that their future spouse wasn't going to treat them like their mother

3. the r/s had a series of bad relationships where their partners rejected them

4. the r/s had overprotective or overbearing parents who nitpicked whatever they did & feeling the lack of control in their childhood they grew up wanting a different future, thinking that other people were going to act like their parents & not allow them freedom

5. the r/s was sexually abused themselves

6. the r/s was sexually repressed & they are rebelling or using this as an outlet for their frustration

7. They didn't like the "goody-two-shoes" image they had

Are any of these theories valid? What are some other reasions a rapist/sadist would become one?

And I read that fewer than 10% of rapists are actually sadists. So what do the rapists get out of it? What are their other motivations if it's not to inflict suffering? And how come most of them are males?

Answer 1

MSNBC ran a program discussing that very same thing and a link that has been discovered is brain trauma due to a hard fall or taking a beating to the head. There was also a book called A Stranger in the Family that confirmed that theory. I know it's not everything, but in addition to the things you listed...

Answer 2

imo a rapist/sadist is someone who has no regard for someone else's emotions or being that they will do whatever they want to them.
someone may have had some kind of emotional trauma prior to this to be able to separate oneself from human empathy.
not to say all people who've experience trauma are bound to become rapists/sadistics. im sure there are other factors involved. some kind of intervention for the ones who've made it without hurting others.
some are just pure evil

Answer 3

All possible. There are many factors in a person's karma and current experience that go to make a rapist and/or sadist. The commonest reason to rape is, I believe, when a man feels gutted by experiencing himself as being inferior to women, or to one particular woman e.g. his mother; and also he believes that power leads to satisfaction and powerlessness to misery. Plus a separation from women in general or some class of (vulnerable?) women in particular. Or in the case of gay rape, a class of men or of people. When, as you say usually, it's not an active enjoyment of the woman's pain, it's an indifference to and/or unawareness of it. She is weak and powerless therefore she doesn't matter, doesn't count, perhaps even doesn't feel (in his mind), is worthless. He may have had a strong stimulus in this direction of thought at a time in his early life when he felt himself to be powerless and worthless and his feelings counted for nothing. Nearly all women, and most men, react to vulnerability in another person with compassion, or at worst with pity, but some people react "aha! Let me take advantage!"

Power and lust are quite closely linked in some minds too.

Answer 4

Old joke: A Masochist says: "hurt me, please."
A Sadist says: "No. I won't."

But seriously though.......

Theories 1, 2, and 5, are actually pretty close to the mark. Nearly all serial rapists have experienced multiple serious physical or sexual abuse as children or young teenagers.

But this is not sufficient, because most people who experience such abuse do not become rapists. This abuse is just the first stage of a four stage process whereby people become dangerous violent criminals. This first stage may not be "abuse" in general, but any repeated highly traumatic experiences, where the subject feels seriously threatened, humiliated, and subjugated.

The second stage is where the subject of these experiences begins to question his own motives, behavior, and his own personal identity. He wonders what, if anything he can do to prevent such experiences in the future. In the first two stages, he may receive "training" or "coaching" in violent thinking and behavior, usually by a parent, or someone he considers to be an authority figure.

In the third stage, the subject resolves to act out, to use violence in order to defend himself against any further abuse, or threatening experiences. He must then find the courage to act on this resolution, in order to prove to himself it's validity. He begins to redefine himself as a "violent person". He begins to notice that with each violent act, other people begin to treat him differently, with more "respect".......

At this point it must be noted that the subject is not dangerously violent, nor is he a criminal, since he is only acting out violently in order to defend himself against serious threats to his person. It is important to understand that all personal violence carries the huge risk of serious injury or death. The victim of a violent attack may try to "turn the tables" on the attacker, by defending themselves with deadly force. Thus, violent attackers depend on surprise, intimidation, the naivete of their victim, and their reluctance or hesitancy to defend themselves. The attacker must choose and plan to act with serious violence. They are not crazy, or out of control, they do not "rage out" and randomly lash out against anyone and everyone in their path (though it may seem this way to the victims) The fact that violent behavior is a personal choice is the basis of the modern criminal justice system.

In fact nearly all military or police boot camps use versions of the first three steps of this process, in order to prepare recruits to deal with violent conflict. But it is stressed throughout the training regime, that violence is *only* to be used under orders, to defend self, friends, and country, during violent situations.

The fourth stage is, after several violent successes, the subject, again, resolves to use violence; in order to achieve other goals, besides self preservation. He begins to use what he believes to be "preemptive" violence. He begins to use violence or the threat of violence, to resolve personal issues, to get his needs met, and lastly, as a means to exert influence and power over others. At this point he is, by any definition, a dangerous violent criminal.

I must add that this process, for the most part, only pertains to individual, personal violence, not conspiracies, violence or wars by large groups, or governments, although some aspect of personal violence is almost always involved......

Hope that makes sense.....
~Donkey hotei

Answer 5

Most people who become a rapist are mad because they were rape as a child and takes it out on others!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

if the guy cant bag any girlz