Sexual Health

6. Sexual abuse

6.1. Some explanations and consequences

Photo: G. H. Lunde

It seems that lack of or insufficient relative competence and poor ability to create consistent intimate relationships can be one contributing factor in the development of abusive behaviour. Such relational problems may originate in low education and lack of understanding of social rules. Other reasons may be maladministration or the fact that the person has been subject to physical/sexual abuse. Another reason may be deprivation caused by a lack of competence to handle your own emotional life. Furthermore, cultural attitudes play a role through learning and development of sexual scriptures and attitudes to violence as problem or conflict resolution. For example, this can take the form of problematic attitudes towards sex with children.  

It seems that ideas about male/female sexuality and heterosexual interaction also play a role. This happens through creating gender expectations for boys’ and girls’ sexual roles and uncertainty about legitimate and illegitimate power in heterosexual relationships. 

Violence myths and stereotypical perceptions of what is considered appropriate relationships between the sexes can enhance such a tendency. Lack of social control in this field can provide a basis for sexual abuse to occur among young people (1). 

Sexual offence is a legal term used to define infringements involving sexual activity, sexual act and sexually offensive conduct. Definition of behaviours considered to be a sexual offence and their legal consequences vary, and thus not necessarily the same in all countries. 

When ruling on offence penalty, the level of physical and psychological harm infringed on the victim is usually considered as an important factor, for example, the severity and long-term consequences of physical injuries and the psychological implications of the perpetrators role on the victim’s life (2).