Can animals be traumatised by rape?

[mr.jp]

@Colibri

I doubt it very much, but how would one know? As I said, I doubt that an animal differentiates a forced sex act from any other kind of attack or aggression. Sex doesn’t have the kind of special status that is does in human culture.

I don’t see how we can say that, without some sort of studies of their facial contortions, or MRI, or something. Yes, there is not an identical social concept of sex and rape. But rape is still really bad for females, in that it doesn’t just cause them physical harm, but also possibly causes them to bear and nurture an inferior child. So from an evolutionary point of view, we could expect that rape would feel a lot worse for them.

I personally witnessed a duck gang rape a few days ago, and it was the most horrible thing I have ever seen.

[dracoi]

@mr.jp

I don’t see how we can say that, without some sort of studies of their facial contortions, or MRI, or something. Yes, there is not an identical social concept of sex and rape. But rape is still really bad for females, in that it doesn’t just cause them physical harm, but also possibly causes them to bear and nurture an inferior child. So from an evolutionary point of view, we could expect that rape would feel a lot worse for them.

I personally witnessed a duck gang rape a few days ago, and it was the most horrible thing I have ever seen.

But you’re projecting your own views and assumptions on the behavior.

Rape doesn’t have to cause any physical damage at all. The seriousness of the crime in humans is really linked to the emotional violation. Certainly the orangutans are not being hurt enough for it to affect their chances of survival, or you wouldn’t see 50% numbers. If they don’t have the mental capacity for the emotional trauma, then there just isn’t that much trauma.

And why would you assume that rape in orangutans produces an inferior child? Are you saying that being small and sneaky is never advantageous? Surely humans are proof that cleverness is more important than strength.

[mr.jp]

@dracoi

But you’re projecting your own views and assumptions on the behavior.

Rape doesn’t have to cause any physical damage at all. The seriousness of the crime in humans is really linked to the emotional violation. Certainly the orangutans are not being hurt enough for it to affect their chances of survival, or you wouldn’t see 50% numbers. If they don’t have the mental capacity for the emotional trauma, then there just isn’t that much trauma.

And why would you assume that rape in orangutans produces an inferior child? Are you saying that being small and sneaky is never advantageous? Surely humans are proof that cleverness is more important than strength.

How do you know they don’t have mental capacity for emotional trauma?

I don’t know how it is with orangutans, but I am certain that the duck rape affected the females rate of survival. It was all bloody. And rape is widespread with them. As long as the male is not at risk, I guess.

I would assume that, because otherwise the female could just have chosen that male to mate with. I am aware that female choice is not perfect, but overall I’m sure that they choose better than random.

I don’t know if you really have to be “clever” to rape a female. Possibly to a higher degree you have to be clever to survive long enough to be an old, attractive orangutan.