Positive Expectation

  Inflexible and Unrealistic

• It is the combination of this strong inflexible intent and selfish personality traits that provides fertile ground for unrealistic expectations. 

As one sex offender, Interviewee 7, explained his general perspective toward dating: 

You know, at that age I thought you take a girl out, she gonna give it up.  At the time, that's what I thought.

Interviewee 12 expressed his initial anticipations, as well:

This is something I could hit, could have sex with, you know?  I was thinking that maybe I could take her down to my house.  Show her what I got, show her my cars and everything.  She’d be willing to give it up to me.

 

  Assuming Consent

• After initial and groundless reasoning that caused many date rapists to expect sex, “positive” anticipations by the sexual assault perpetrators gained momentum, as the date proceeded, if the perpetrators did not obtain either verbal statements or nonverbal cues indicating rejection of these initiatives. 

   Interviewee 10 explained his rationale during the date, stating: 

I figured, what the heck, let's just do this.  So, I started making my advances.  You know--pull her dress up, playing with her vagina.  And so, I had it in my head I was getting laid.

 

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