Causes of Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is any sexual contact or behaviour that happens against your will or without your consent and can include rape, sexual assault, incest and fondling. It is never okay. Sexual violence is about power and control – not sex or love. It can affect women, men and children of all ages. It can be a single incident or it can happen again and again. It is never the victim’s fault.

It can take many different forms, including physical, emotional and psychological abuse. Survivors of sexual violence may also experience ongoing health problems such as depression, PTSD and chronic health issues such as reproductive, gastrointestinal or cardiovascular disorders. They may have difficulties at work and in relationships, experience dissociation (a coping mechanism that disconnects the mind from the body) and self-harm.

Some people use drugs or alcohol to help them cope with the impact of sexual violence. Survivors may experience nightmares, flashbacks and feelings of fear and anxiety, often triggered by certain sights, sounds or situations. They may develop phobias and avoid activities they believe will put them at risk, such as driving or being in public places. Many survivors become numb or disconnected from their bodies, which can lead to feelings of being trapped, helpless or powerless. They may try to find relief from the numbness by engaging in self-injury, drug or alcohol misuse or by overeating.

The causes of sexual violence are complex and involve a combination of biological, environmental, interpersonal and developmental factors. People are at risk of being perpetrators or victims of sexual violence for a variety of reasons including their age, culture, education and social connections. Individual level factors that increase the risk of being a perpetrator of sexual violence include drug or alcohol use, beliefs and attitudes that support violent behaviour, impulsive and other antisocial tendencies and hostility towards women. Family and community level factors that increase the risk of being abused or a victim of sexual violence include having a history of domestic or family violence, a high proportion of males in the family, lack of social networks, poverty and poor housing.

Research has shown that there are a number of ways that individuals and communities can reduce the prevalence of sexual violence. It can be prevented through education, awareness, prevention and intervention programmes and policies. The research base on these approaches is growing but more needs to be done, particularly in terms of outcome evaluation and of testing a range of models to identify what works best and how it can be improved.