Understanding Sexual Predators: Power Alone Does Not Explain Their Abuses

In this Huffington Post Highline article, journalist Emily Yoffe—author of the Slate sex column “Dear Prudence”—jumps down the rabbit hole of human sexuality in an attempt to unravel the mystery of what motivates male sexual predators. In the context of the #MeToo movement, she makes the case that looking at sexual harassment and abuse merely in terms of power is incomplete, and that if we truly want to understand and prevent sexual abuse, we must also closely examine the sexual aspect of these violations.

Yoffe asks a series of questions, drawing on expert interviews, deep research and case studies: Why are sexual predators so often men? How does deviant sexuality develop? What role does power play in this phenomenon? And what do we do with this knowledge?

The resulting five-part deep-dive delves into the darkest recesses of human sexuality, starting with an historical exploration of the literature examining sexual deviancy and what causes people to develop fetishes—both of the benign and invasive variety. She writes that while there’s no single explanation for the range of sexual behaviors that crosses the line, such behaviors likely have deep psychological roots. Such behaviors are often linked to shameful experiences in early childhood, insecure attachment style, and narcissism—though not always.

So how do we prevent men from becoming sexual predators? Unfortunately, there are no easy answers. Human sexuality is highly individualized and incredibly complex. Even so, for those curious to learn more about what might motivate sexual predators, Yoffe's article is a good start.