Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Eric W. Hickey

Abstract

Male-on-male sexual assaults are a challenge for prevention and response personnel, law enforcement, and the military justice system. Limited research has been conducted on the military sex offender population, and none has been done specifically on military male-on-male assaults resulting in a gap in the research on offenders, what factors make their victims vulnerable, and the situational dynamics of the assaults. In this quantitative exploratory study, 171 cases of penetrative male-on-male sexual assaults were examined through the lens of the routine activity theory. The results of this exploration found that both victims and offenders were most likely to be 18-24 years old, active duty, combat soldiers, White, single, social acquaintances, or friends, had a relationship of at least one month, and involved alcohol use. Most victims were in the rank of E1-E3 and heterosexual, and most offenders were E4-E6 and bisexual or homosexual. Most assaults took place within the offender’s home, on a Saturday, between the hours of midnight and six a.m., involved a con method of approach, and involved offender to victim fellatio. Law enforcement notification was made through victim reporting and 58% of reports were within one week of the assault. In 71.9% of the cases, the offender consented to an interview resulting in confessions in 55.6% of the cases. In 81.9% of the cases, at least one type of evidence was available. Offenders were punished in 78.9% cases, with a conviction in a court-martial for their sexual crime being the most common case outcome. As a result of this research, prevention and response programs could be better tailored to male victims and enhanced investigative and prosecution methods could be developed leading to positive social change.

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