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A Threat Management Approach to Explaining Women's Aversive Rape Fantasies.

Domenic P Roberto1, Marina Morris1, Melissa M McDonald2

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Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Forensic Psychology
  • Evolutionary Psychology

Background:

  • Sexual rape fantasies are common among women, varying from violent to seductive scenarios.
  • Research often views sexual fantasy as pleasurable, overlooking the function of aversive content.
  • The threat management system (TMS) model offers a framework for understanding adaptive psychological mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the function of aversive rape fantasies in women.
  • To test the hypothesis that aversive rape fantasies serve as a threat management system output for rape avoidance.
  • To investigate the relationship between fear of rape, sexual assault history, and aversive rape fantasy content.

Main Methods:

  • An online survey study was conducted with women.
  • Data collected included details on rape fantasies, fear of rape, and history of sexual assault.
  • Statistical analyses controlled for eroticism of rape fantasies and general fearfulness.

Main Results:

  • Fear of rape was positively associated with the aversiveness of rape fantasies.
  • This association was specific to rape fantasies, not other fantasy types.
  • Women's history of sexual assault was linked to aversive rape fantasies, mediated by fear of rape.

Conclusions:

  • Findings support the threat management system model's application to aversive rape fantasies.
  • Aversive rape fantasies may function as mental rehearsal for rape avoidance.
  • Women with higher vulnerability and fear of rape may use these fantasies for defensive vigilance.