“Maybe that’s what you mean by lust and scarcity?”
“Lust” is an abbreviated reference to the list of human character flaws that I cited in previous comments (greed, lust, selfishness, envy, jealousy, resentment, laziness, foolishness, etc.). “Scarcity” is an abbreviated reference to “men’s experience of sexual access to women as a scarce resource.”
There is an entire range of behaviors that men display that is influenced by their experience of sexual access as a scarce resource. Rape is at the extreme end of the range. There is a substantial portion of the range, besides rape, that women experience as distressful.
It can be observed that men’s behavior (not just rape, but the entire range of behaviors) follows a pattern that is similar to that of any population facing scarcity of any essential resource. Members of the population tend to be more aggressive than they would be if the resource were abundant. They test limits and stretch boundaries. They develop strategies through which to gain greater access. They consider it a challenge and experience a sense of accomplishment when they are successful. They compete with one another, sometimes ruthlessly, for possession of the resource. These behaviors are similar to the characteristics of any population facing scarcity of any essential resource. Is the similarity a coincidence? Each of us will have to make that judgement for ourselves.
Where an individual falls within the range of behaviors is dependent upon his individual moral character. Each individual, when pursuing a scarce but essential resource, is more susceptible to committing transgressions than he might otherwise be.
The structure that emerges in consequence of these behaviors, taken as a whole, could be accurately described as a “dominance hierarchy.” It might be said that men’s experience of sexual access to women as a scarce resource is a major contributor to the persistence of a dominance hierarchy. Other major contributors are greed, lust, selfishness, envy, jealousy, resentment, laziness, foolishness, etc. If you are able to successfully purge those traits from the human soul you will be heralded as a saint.
When it comes to rape, I have no doubt that power is involved. At the very least, in order to commit an act of rape a rapist must overpower his victim — through force, intimidation or subterfuge. Additionally, the ability to extract a scarce resource to satisfy one’s lust while evading unpleasant consequences is likely to make one feel powerful.
“This reinforces what the NYT article said. It’s largely about exerting power and control, particularly if you are someone who doesn’t feel that they otherwise have much.”
I suppose that is one possible interpretation of the Times article. I would interpret it differently.
After careful study of the Times article to which you referred me, I do not find any description of behavior that is not consistent with the range of behavior that occurs within a population that is experiencing scarcity of an essential resource. Members of a population experiencing scarcity are likely to feel powerless with respect to their efforts to secure an adequate supply of the concerned resource. They are likely to feel powerless with respect to the potential providers of that resource. The ability to extract the resource conveys a sense of power.
The underlying motive behind men’s aggressive pursuit of sexual access to women is lust and scarcity (an abbreviated reference to men’s experience of sexual access to women as a scarce resource).
The New York Times article appears to be consistent with much of what I have written previously.
From the Times article:
Same thing I stated a while back:
You stated:
The Times article states:
It would come as no surprise to learn that men with “hostile attitudes towards women” would be less likely to concern themselves with the harm they do to a woman when they act to gratify their own lust.
The Times article also states:
…and this:
…and from the excerpt that you cited:
Is rape “about” sexual desire or not? Apparently there are experts (and some rapists) who believe it is. Without the involvement of sexual desire, the term “sexual violence” would be meaningless.
“It’s not just pretty young women who get raped — it’s children, and old nuns, and straight men, and unimpressive looking people wearing non-provocative clothing.”
In equal proportions?
The three most important criteria that rapists consider in choosing their victims are, in order of importance:
- Opportunity
- Opportunity
- Opportunity
…as suggested by the excerpt that you quoted:
When a potential victim presents herself to a rapist she may not be his preferred victim, but she is the one who is available at the time.
Obviously, rapists who have unconventional sexual tastes will seek unconventional victims.
A rapist’s choice of victims does not indicate whether or not his act is “about” sexual desire.
“…disempowered men feel like they want to take what has been denied to them…”
What is it that has been denied to them? It is sexual access to women. They experience sexual access as a scarce resource and seek to alleviate the scarcity. They may feel “disempowered” as a result of finding themselves unable to procure sufficient access to an essential resource. If that resource were not desired by them in the first place there would be no reason for them to feel disempowered by its denial.
“…people who feel disempowered and giving short shrift by society are more likely to perpetrate sexual violence.”
People who experience scarcity of any essential resource are apt to feel “disempowered.” People who feel disempowered are generally more likely to perpetrate any kind of violence and are more likely to commit any crime.
Power operates as a tool that can be used to gain sexual access. One reason men seek power is to increase the availability of sexual access.
Here is a piece that I wrote explaining the relationship between power and sexual access:
Those who are able to overcome scarcity and procure an adequate supply, or even a surplus, of a scarce resource gain recognition and achieve status as a result.
“…but that’s just another form of incel type behavior which is totally about power dynamics.”
I would interpret incels’ behavior differently than you have. I have commented on that subject under your “black pill” article:
