A Possible Link Between Stigmatization of Sexual-Erotic Identities and Sexual Violence

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 sexual-erotic 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. Draft of Schneider, Andreas 2002. “A Possible Link Between Stigmatization of Sexual-Erotic Identities and Sexual Violence”. Sexuality & Culture 6,4 1 A Possible Link Between Stigmatization of Sexual-Erotic Identities and