Understanding Sexual Assault Through Strain Theory

This assignment delves into the concept of sexual assault, specifically focusing on the strain theory as a contributing factor. It examines how societal pressures and expectations can lead to frustration and ultimately, violence within intimate relationships. The paper also proposes policy interventions, such as the 'Safe Dates' program, to mitigate the occurrence of such crimes.

Intimate Partner Violence

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASKS.............................................................................................................................................3
1) Type of offence and its research ............................................................................................3
2) Ideas and theories regarding the occurrence of crime............................................................4
3) Best theory for the occurrence of offence...............................................................................5
4) Link between the theory and offence......................................................................................5
5) Comparison of the chosen theory with other theories of crime..............................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Intimate partner violence can be defined as a term which is collective which describes the
domestic abuses, stalking, ans sexual assault. This term is used to reflect the intimate nature
either of the abuse or of the offender relationship. In this research essay topic which is chosen is
the sexual assault, it includes rape or assault through penetration which may include attempts ,
unwanted touching or indecent exposure which is carried out by any of the person. This theory
will help to explain the cause and the theories of crime (Finkel and Eckhardt, 2013).
TASKS
1) Type of offence and its research
Sexual assault can be defined as the type of sexual act in which a particular person is
pressurized and is physically forced to get engage against their will, or it can also be said that it
is a non consent sexual touching by a person to another person. The definition of the sexual
assault get varies among the states of individual (Cronholm and et.al., 2011). The abuse, incest
network, rape defines this as the sexual contact which is unwanted that stops short of attempted
rape or rape. It may include fondling or sexual touching . It has several types like child sexual
abuse, domestic violence, groping, elderly sexual assault, sexual harassment, rape and mass
sexual assault. This topic need to be taken into consideration as it is very serious thing in today's
world. Crimes are increasing day by day which are hindering people and creating fear among
them. Sexual assault is sometimes called as stranger rape and which can occur in the types of
contact sexual assault, blitz sexual assault and home invasion sexual assault (Hattery, 2009).
2) Ideas and theories regarding the occurrence of crime
Sexual assault may take different types of forms but the one thing is same that there is
never the victim's fault. It refers to the behaviour or sexual contact which occurs without the
consent of the victim. Rape is a kind of sexual assault which includes sexual penetration without
the consent. It includes the term perpetrators which means the person who is known to the
victim. In a blitz sexual assault , perpetrators assault victim brutally usually in public place at
night (Intimate personal violence and partner abuse, 2016). Contact sexual assault is when the
trust is gained by the perpetrator on victim by luring, flirting and put them into such situation
where the sexual assault can occur. In home invasion sexual assault the, stranger enters the
victim home to commit assault. Theories are the essential tool that helps to understand the way in

which the system of criminal justice works and who are the actors in the system. There are
several criminology theory biological theory of crime which explains the behaviour which is
contrary to the expectations of the society by examining the individual characteristics (Capaldi
and et.al., 2012). Strain theories which involve the inability to achieve goals, presentation of
negative thing and loss of positive thing. Self control theory which defines the different models
of the self control like indirect control, informal social control and power control. Psychological
theories of crime which is on the notion that a person's early experiences like in childhood,
influence the person for committing crimes. There are 57% serious assaults on women since the
age 16 and offender was ex partner or partner, in contrast in the less serious assaults, the offender
in at least one situation was 24.6% (Zolotor, Denham and Weil, 2009).
3) Best theory for the occurrence of offence
The best theory which is chosen according to the crime related to sexual assault is the
strain theory. Strain theories involves the various strains and stress that increase the chances of
crime. This may includes when there is loss of the positivity e.g. the death of the close one, loss
of valuable, when a person is not able to achieve goals like status or monetary goal and when
there is negativity like physical and verbal abuse (Hattery, 2009). A person who experience such
kinds of strains becomes sad or upset and in return creates a crime, they think that it is a way to
escape from strains, and due to this individuals assault their intimate partner or or peers who
keeps on harassing them. This theory best explains the occurrence of sexual assault by a person.
4) Link between the theory and offence
The offence which is chosen for the research is the sexual assault, and the theory which
best describes it is the strain theory. Strains are there which increase the occurrence of crime for
different reasons. Mostly it leads to the negative emotions which includes the anger, fear,
depression and frustration. Due to such emotions the pressure for corrective actions means the
strained individuals may feel bad and wants to commit something, and the crime is one of the
possible response. Strains lead to the negativity and this eventually turns in to crime. Due to such
strains people commit the sexual assault on their partners (Finkel and Eckhardt, 2013).
According to the few studies it suggest that the emotions like fear and frustration explains the
strains effect on crime.

5) Comparison of the chosen theory with other theories of crime
Strain theory which is being chosen for the sexual assault is the best theory as it explains
that because of several strains which may include depression, frustration etc. people tends to
commit crime like sexual assault on their partners (Cronholm and et.al., 2011). Other theories
like psychological theory which consists of psychology of the person to commit crime and it
does not explains the true reason to commit sexual assault. Biological theory in which the
behaviour of the person is contrary to the society also not explains the true reason for the crime.
Other theories like self control which explains different control, routine activities theory, cultural
transmission theory does explains the string reason to commit the sexual assault on the intimate
partner (Johnson, 2011)
CONCLUSION
From the above research it can be concluded that the chosen topic which is sexual assault
is caused because of the strain theory of the crime. One potential policy which will help to
reduce this crime may be the program of 'Safe Dates', which is basically designed to block
physical, emotional and sexual abuse in the dating relationships. The main goals of the programs
are, to change the gender role norm and dating violence, to improve dating conflicts resolution
and will improve peer helping, will promote belief of victim and perpetrator in seeking help from
community resources. This will help in reducing the intimate sexual assault. It is recommended
that if there will be clear policy regarding crimes and enforcement of the policy then it will helps
to reduce the practices of sexual assault.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Capaldi, D.M. and et.al., 2012. A systematic review of risk factors for intimate partner violence.
Partner abuse. 3(2). pp.231-280.
Cronholm, P.F., and et.al., 2011. Intimate partner violence. American family physician. 83(10).
pp.1165-1172.
Finkel, E.J. and Eckhardt, C.I., 2013. Intimate partner violence. The Oxford handbook of close
relationships, pp.452-474.
Hattery, A., 2009. Intimate partner violence. Rowman & Littlefield.
Johnson, M.P., 2011. Gender and types of intimate partner violence: A response to an anti-
feminist literature review. Aggression and Violent Behavior. 16(4). pp.289-296.
Zolotor, A.J., Denham, A.C. and Weil, A., 2009. Intimate partner violence. Primary care:
Clinics in office practice. 36(1). pp.167-179.
Online
Intimate personal violence and partner abuse. 2016. [Online]. [Available through :
<https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/
compendium/focusonviolentcrimeandsexualoffences/yearendingmarch2015/
chapter4intimatepersonalviolenceandpartnerabuse#sexual-assault-and-stalking-by-
relationship-to-offender>. [Accessed on 24th April. 2017 ].