A possible link between stigmatization of sexual-erotic identities and sexual violence

Abstract

It is suggested that stigmatization of sexual-erotic identities causes shame that leads to emotions of anger and rage that, in turn, create a fertile basis for violent behavior related to the source of stigmatization. This model is tested comparatively in the U.S. and Germany. A curvilinear regression of evaluation of identities on sexual-eroticism ratings indicates stigmatization of sexualerotic identities in the U.S. but not in Germany. It also leads to the unanticipated finding that Germans tend to stigmatize people with identities that appear extremely non-sexual-erotic. Matching their affective meaning with that of explicit sexual-erotic identities, typical sexual-erotic emotions are empirically identified. In the U.S., emotions of anger are typically associated with sexual-eroticism, compared to emotions of excitement in Germany. The stated consequence of these emotions, the different prevalence of violent sexual behavior, is tested comparing statistics of reported sexual-violent crime in both nations.