Canadian Open Public Health Journal
Vol. 1, No. 1, June 2014, pp. 1 - 8
Available online at http://crpub.com/Journals.php
Open Access
Research article
INVESTIGATION OF THE REMOTE AND
IMMEDIATE FACTORS CAUSING
ACQUAINTANCE RAPE BY MALE STUDENTS OF
ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVRSITY, AKUNGBAAKOKO, ONDO STATE
G.O. AYENIGBARA
SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT,
ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY, AKUNGBA-AKOKO,
ONDO STATE, NIGERIA
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the remote and immediate factors causing acquaintance rape by male students of Adekunle
Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study while
210 respondents constituted the sample. Self constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection.
The reliability index of the questionnaire was 0.75. Instrument was personally administered with the help of three
trained research assistants.
All the 210 retrieved questionnaire forms were coded into frequency tables, and
analysed with simple percentage and chi-square (x2) statistics. The results showed that indecent dressing by ladies;
drugs use; mens ego; watching pornographic films and blue movies; and ladies attitude on dates were remote and
immediate causes of rape by male students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko. It was therefore
recommended, among others, that Health education, with emphasis on sex education, be introduced and made
Copyright © crpub.com, all rights reserved.
1
Canadian Open Public Health Journal
Vol. 1, No. 1, June 2014, pp. 1 - 8
Available online at http://crpub.com/Journals.php
Open Access
compulsory for all students from primary through secondary to tertiary institutions. Ladies should dress modestly
on outing because some men assume sexy dress and flirtatious manner mean a desire for sex, so dress codes should
be enforced on campuses.
Key Words: Acquaintance, Pornographic movies, rape, indecent dressing, men’s ego, alcohol, ladies attitude.
______________________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION
The use of force and coercion in sexual relationships is one of the most serious problems in human
interactions, and the trend is increasing worldwide, particularly, in the developing nations of Africa and Asia,
though developed nations of America and Europe are no exempt. The most extreme manifestation of sexual
coercion, forcing a person to submit to another’s sexual desire, is rape, but sexual coercion occurs in many other
subtler forms, including sexual harassment.
Sexual coercion that relies on the threat, and use of physical force, or takes advantage of circumstances,
that render a person incapable of giving consent, such as when drunk, or under the influence of drugs, according to
[9], constitute sexual assault or rape. Furthermore, when the victim is younger than the legally defined age of
consent, the acts constitute statutory rape, whether or not coercion is involved. Also coerced sexual activity, in
which the victim knows or is dating the rapist, is often referred to as date rape, or acquaintance rape. Most victims
of rape knows their assailants, but less than one-third of all sexual crimes are reported. This may be because of fear
of reprisal attack; fear of social stigma and shame.
Any woman can be a victim of rape. It is estimated that more than 3.5 million women are raped each year,
and that 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men has experienced an attempted or complete rape at some point in their lives
[9]. In addition, a study of college students in the U.S. found that between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 college women
experience a completed or attempted rape during their college years. Also, 65,000 cases of rape were reported in
South Africa in 2012 [2], along with numerous cases of rape reported in Nigeria, India, Somalia, Pakistan, Egypt,
Libya, Afghanistan and many other nations.
Men who commit rape may be any age, and come from any socio-economic group. Some rapists are
exploiters, in the sense that they rape on the spur of the moment, and mainly want immediate gratification. Some
attempt to compensate for feelings of sexual inadequacy, and an inability to obtain satisfaction otherwise. Others
are more hostile and sadistic and are primarily interested, not in sex, but in hurting and humiliating a particular
woman or women in general, such as those carried out during communal conflicts, sectarian conflict and during
warfare.
Most women are in much less danger of being raped by a stranger than of being sexually assaulted by a
man they know or date. Surveys suggested that as many as 25% of women have had experience in which the men
they were dating persisted in trying to force sex despite pleading, crying, screaming, or resisting. Surveys have also
found that more than 60% of all rape victims were raped by a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or date [9].
Copyright © crpub.com, all rights reserved.
2
Canadian Open Public Health Journal
Vol. 1, No. 1, June 2014, pp. 1 - 8
Available online at http://crpub.com/Journals.php
Open Access
Victims of date rape tend to shoulder much of the responsibility for the incident, questioning their own judgment
and behaviour rather than blaming the aggressor, after all, victims usually are attracted to the man at first.
Rape may be caused by many underlying factors. One factor in date rape appears to be the double standard
about appropriate sexual behaviour for men and women. It is a common held cultural belief that nice women do not
say yes to sex, even when they want to, and that real men don’t take no for an answer. So, when a woman is on
date, and the man demand for sex and she refuses, the real man may attempt to force her.
Also, there are widespread differences between men and women in how they perceive romantic encounters
and [9] affirmed that men tend to interpret women’s action on dates, such as smiling or talking in a low voice, as
indicating an interest in having sex, whereas the women interpreted the same actions as just being friendly. Again,
when ladies put on mini skirts, tight dress, showing her body contours, and sensitive parts of her body, with
provocative make ups, and gestures such as flashing her eyes, men may misconstrue these gestures to be interest in
sex, and so get sexually aroused beyond his ability to control himself.
Moreover, there has been an increase in the reported use of date-rape drugs other than alcohol. Also called
predator drugs, the drugs used in date rapes include flunitrazepam (Rolypnol), gamma hydroxybutyrte rate (GHB),
and Ketamine hydrochloride (“Special K”). These drugs have a variety of effects, including sedation; if slipped
surreptitiously into a drink, they can incapacitate a person within about 20 minutes and make her or him more
vulnerable to assault. Rohypnol, GHB, and other drugs also often cause anterograde amnesia, meaning victims have
little memory of what happened while they were under the influence of the drug [9].
When individuals watch pornographic movies, films and magazines depicting nude ladies, men and women
in compromising situations or performing sexual intercourse, the innate or inborn awareness of sexual activities in
them is aroused. This arousal crates the urge to get involved in sexual intercourse. This tendency may be
heightened if there is an opportunistic occasion, such as a visit by a female friend, or meeting a lady in an isolated,
obscured or dark places. Males may even leure ladies away to be raped through coercion or through use of date-rape
drugs. Thus, pornography may account for many cases of date rapes among college students.
Furthermore, indecent dressing on the part of women often predispose them to rape. Scanty dressing to
show vital parts of women, and seductive use of make-ups, along with rolling of buttocks while walking, including
seducive look, flashing of the eye lashes, are some of the factors men say, turn them on sexually. College women,
particularly the freshers, believe that provocative dresses, make-ups and other such gestures, are parts of
socialization and freedom.
Another cause of rape is that induced as a result of hostility to the woman, which may take the form of
gang rape for vengeance. This type of rape is often perpetrated to settle scores, to humiliate, and to revenge. Gang
rape is common during communal hostilities, conflicts, and wars, examples of which were in Somalia, Sudan, Cong,
India, Pakistan, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Rwanda etc. In those cases, rape was used as a weapon of war.
Factors causing rape may be categorized as remote and immediate. Remote causes are those, which, when
they occur, arouses sexual urge, and desire, and thus give the rapist time to prepare for execution of the act. On the
other hand, immediate factors are those that are likely to launch the rapist into actual date rape. Though, some
Copyright © crpub.com, all rights reserved.
3
Canadian Open Public Health Journal
Vol. 1, No. 1, June 2014, pp. 1 - 8
Available online at http://crpub.com/Journals.php
Open Access
factors may both be remote and immediate, depending on the situation and environment. For instance, while
provocative dressing, and ladies attitude may be suggestive of, and arouse sexual desire, watching pornographic
movies and blue films may, in addition to provocative dressing and ladies attitude, trigger off immediate date rape
action if the environment is conducive.
Rape victims suffer both physical and psychological injury. For most, physical wounds may heal within
weeks, while others may last longer or even lead to death. Psychological pain may endure and be substantial. In
some cases, victims may experience shock, anxiety, depression, shame, and a host of psychosomatic symptoms after
being victimized. These psychological reactions following rape, according to [9], comprise rape trauma syndrome,
which is characterized by fear, fatigue, nightmares, crying spells, and digestive upset. Rape trauma syndrome is a
form of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [12] [11]. In addition, rape victims may acquire HIV/AIDS, and or
become pregnant as a result of the experience. Besides, victims may develop phobia for sexual intercourse later in
life, a situation which may lead to frigidity. And because self-shame is very likely, a rape victim may attempt, or
commit suicide.
Consequent upon these, it becomes imperative, therefore that, to prevent acquaintance rape, remote and
immediate predisposing factors be discouraged. To this end, this paper investigated whether indecent dressing by
women, watching pornographic movies or blue films, drugs use, men’s ego, and ladies attitude on date were remote
and immediate causes of acquaintance rape by male students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo
State.
Methodology
Descriptive survey research design was used for the study and the population of study comprised all male
students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akugba-Akoko in Ondo State, Nigeria. From the five faculties of the
University, 42 respondents each were randomly selected from Faculty of Education; Faculty of Arts, Faculty of
Sciences, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences and Faculty of Law respectively.
The resultant 210
respondents constituted the sample for the study.
Instrument
The instrument used for data collection was self constructed. The draft questionnaire was given to a jury of
five experts in Health Education and Psychology who went through and made useful contributions that enhanced the
validity of the instrument. The final draft was subjected to test retest reliability procedure. The reliability index was
0.75. Responses to the 25 questionnaire items followed the Likert 3 point scale of Agree, Do Not Know and
Disagree.
Data Collection
Three trained research assistants assisted the researcher in data collection. The researcher went round the
five faculties, randomly selected the respondents, and administered the questionnaire to them. The questionnaire
forms were collected in-situ. The retrieved questionnaire were screened, and coded into frequency tables while
simple percentage and chi-square statistics were applied for analysis.
Copyright © crpub.com, all rights reserved.
4
Canadian Open Public Health Journal
Vol. 1, No. 1, June 2014, pp. 1 - 8
Available online at http://crpub.com/Journals.php
Open Access
Results
Table 1: Responses on Whether Indecent Dressing by Ladies was a remote and the Immediate Cause of Rape by
Male Students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State.
Reponses
Frequency
Percentage
Agree
Do Not Know
Disagree
825
152
73
78.6
14.5
6.9
Total
1050
100
DF
10
Critical
Value
18.307
Calculated
Value
116.24
Significant of alpha level 0.05
Table 2: Responses on Whether Watching Pornographic Films was a remote and the Immediate Cause of Rape by
Male Students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State.
Reponses
Frequency
Percentage
Agree
708
67.4
Do Not Know
Disagree
89
253
8.5
24.1
Total
1050
100
DF
10
Critical
Value
18.307
Calculated
Value
411.83
Significant at alpha level 0.5
Table 3: Responses on Whether Drug Use was a remote and the Immediate Cause of Rape by Male Students of
Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State
Reponses
Frequency
Percentage
Agree
643
61.2
Do Not Know
Disagree
212
195
20.2
18.6
Total
1050
100
DF
Critical
Value
10
18.307
Calculated
Value
198.64
Significant at alpha level 0.05
Table 4: Responses on Whether Men’s Ego was a remote and the Immediate Cause of Rape by Male Students of
Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State
Reponses
Agree
Frequency
634
Percentage
DF
Critical
Value
Calculated
Value
60.4
Copyright © crpub.com, all rights reserved.
5
Canadian Open Public Health Journal
Vol. 1, No. 1, June 2014, pp. 1 - 8
Available online at http://crpub.com/Journals.php
Do Not Know
Disagree
100
316
9.5
30.1
Total
1050
100
10
Open Access
18.307
453.71
Significant at alpha level 0.05
Table 5: Response on Whether Ladies Attitude was a remote and the Immediate Cause of Rape by Male Students
of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State.
Reponses
Frequency
Percentage
Agree
694
66.1
Do Not Know
Disagree
69
287
6.6
27.3
Total
1050
100
DF
10
Critical
Value
18.307
Calculated
Value
458.22
Significant at alpha level 0.05
The findings of this study showed that indecent dressing by ladies was a remote and immediate cause of
rape by male students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (table 1); and that watching pornographic
films or movies was a remote and immediate cause of rape among the male students (table 2). The finding further
revealed that drugs use, and men’s ego, as shown in tables 3 and 4 respectively, were remote and the immediate
causes of rape. Finally, table 5 indicated that Ladies Attitude was a remote and immediate cause of rape by male
students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko.
Discussion
This study revealed that indecent dressing by ladies was a remote and immediate cause of rape by male
students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko as shown in table 1. This finding supported the assertion
of the researcher that indecent dressings, revealed vital parts of a woman, and when this is coupled with provocative
gestures such as rolling the buttocks, flashing the eyes, talking in low voice, arouses the man, and also suggest an
interest in sex. But when the man demand for sex, and the lady refuses, force may be applied.
The finding supported [3] who affirmed that indecent dressing by females attract disturbances from men on
campus which include rape.
Also, the study showed that watching pornographic movies was a remote and immediate cause of rape by
male students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko as shown in table 2. This finding corroborated [13]
who noted that high pornography consumption added significantly to the prediction of sexual aggression. The study
also supported [4] who indicated that having hard-core pornography with violent rape scene can also lead to rape.
Copyright © crpub.com, all rights reserved.
6
Canadian Open Public Health Journal
Vol. 1, No. 1, June 2014, pp. 1 - 8
Available online at http://crpub.com/Journals.php
Open Access
The finding further supported [6] who affirmed that pornographic materials put one at high risk of committing
sexual offences, experiencing difficulties in one’s intimate relationship and accepting rape myths.
In addition, the findings showed that drugs use was a remote and immediate cause of rape by males
students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko as shown in table 3. This finding supported [10] who
affirmed that alcohol has been shown to play a disinhibiting role in sexual assault. The finding further corroborates
[1] and [7] who opined that alcohol has a psychopharmacological effect of reducing inhibitions, clouding judgments
and impairing the ability to interpret cues which often result in sexual assault. Furthermore, the study supported [9]
who affirmed that men often primes and force themselves sexually on their dates by drinking alcohol, which lowers
their ordinary social inhibition. [9] equally opined that many college men who have committed date rape tried to
seduce their dates by plying them with alcohol first.
Furthermore, the result of this study showed that men’ s ego was remote and immediate cause of rape by
male students of Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko as shown in table 4. This finding supported [9] who
observe that real men do not take no for an answer when they demand for sex, just as decent ladies does not say yes
to sex, even when they want to. Therefore, men result to have their way through rape. Also, men believe generally,
that ladies pretend when it comes to issues of sexual intercourse. Furthermore, men believe that women were
created because of men [8] therefore they consider women as what they can take at will, even against their wish, by
forcing them. In addition, because of the masculine nature of men, they tend to have their way at all cost on issues
relating to sex.
Moreover, this study showed that ladies attitude was a remote and immediate cause of rape by male
students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko as indicated in table 5. This finding corroborates [9] who
opined that men tend to interpret women’s actions on dates, such as smiling or talking in a low voice, as indicating
an interest in having sex, whereas the women interpreted the same actions as just being friendly. Another attitude
exhibited by women according to [9] is the commonly held cultural believe that nice women don’t say yes to sex,
even when they want to, and that real men don’t take no for an answer, so men result to use of force. Women also
dress provocatively, and with seducive and suggestive gestures which attract disturbances on campus [3]. This
finding further supported [5] who affirmed that men may misread cues given out by women in social situations and
may lack the inhibitions that act to suppress association between sex and aggression.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The results of this study showed that indecent dressing by ladies: watching pornographic films and blue
movies; drugs use, men’s ego; and ladies attitudes were remote and immediate causes of rape by male students of
Adekunle Ajasin University.
Consequent on these findings, it was recommended as follows:
1.
Health education, with emphasis on sex education should be introduced and made compulsory for all
students from primary through secondary to tertiary institutions.
2.
Ladies should dress modestly on outing because some men assume sexy dress, and flirtatious manner mean
a desire for sex, so dress codes should be enforced on campuses.
Copyright © crpub.com, all rights reserved.
7
Canadian Open Public Health Journal
Vol. 1, No. 1, June 2014, pp. 1 - 8
Available online at http://crpub.com/Journals.php
3.
Open Access
There should be stringent legislation against rape, and existing laws should be rigorously enforced. Ban
should be placed on pornographic films, blue movies and magazine depicting nudity and their importation
into the country abrogated.
4.
Moral training and children upbringing by parents and the public should be vigorously enforced. Schools,
churches/mosques, and security agents should collaborate and complement efforts in this regard.
REFERENCES
[1] Brannon, L; and Feist, J. (2007). Health Psychology. An Introduction to Behaviour and Health (6th ed).
Wardsworth, U.K.
[2] British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Network News, (2013)
[3] Bojos, J. and Margnet,A. (2000). Psychological Theory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5, 122143.
[4] Boeringer, A. (1999). Research Reviewing Pornography with Violent Rape Scene.
[5] Drieschner, K; and Lange, A. (1999). A Review of Cognitive Factors in the aetiology of rape: Theories,
Empirical Studies and Implications. Clinical Psychology Review, 19(1) 57-77.
[6] Elizabeth, O.P; Mark, G. and Claudio, V. (2000). The Changing Family and Child Development. Alder Shot:
ash gate. Pp. 48-59.
[7] Grisso, J.A; Schwarz, D.F; Hirschinger, N; Samuel, M; Bresinger, C; Santanna, J; Lowe, R.A; and Anderson, E.
(1999). Violent Injuries among Women in an Urban Area. The New England Journal of Medicine 341, (25). 18991905.
[8] Holy Bible. The Book of Genesis, Chapter 2 verse 18.
[9] Insel, P.M; and Roth, W.T. (2006). Core Concepts in Health (10th ed). McGraw Hill, New York.
[10] Miczek, K.A; Tidey, J.W; Weerts, E.M; Tornatzky, W. (1993). Alcohol, Drugs of Abuse, Aggression and
Violence in Reiss, A.J. and Roth, J.A. (eds). Understanding and Preventing Violence. Vol. 3. Social Influences,
Washington D.C. National Academy Press pp. 377-570.
[11] Pimlott-Kubiak, S; and Cortina, L.M. (2003). Gender, Victimization, and Outcomes; Reconceptualizing Risk.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 71, 528-539.
[12] Resnick, H.S; Kilpatrick, D.G; Best, C.L; and Kramer, T.L. (1992). Vulnerability – Stress Factors in
Development of Postraumatic Stress Disorder. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 180, 424-430.
[13] Vanessa, V; and Malamuth, N.M. (2007). Predicting Sexual Aggression, the Role of Pornography in the
Context of General and Specific Risk Factors. Aggressive Behaviour Vol. 33 pp. 104-117.
Copyright © crpub.com, all rights reserved.
8