the problem with this argument is, although i'm not refusing any of your ideas, you're suggesting that mine are invalid because i don't add cnn clips and ny times articles, sorry, just not my style. there is NO better testament to mankind than mankind, numbers reflect controlled instances and inaccurate portrayals that often, coincidentally, support a cause or idealogy. again, all i'm asking is why it sounds so impossible that someone's sexuality can be shaped by abuse or negative experiences. even if the numbers are small, forget the fucking numbers cuz those "numbers" are victims, people. if there were only 5 rapes committed in this country this year, would you tell the victims to shut the fuck up cuz they don't represent the majority??
I don't mean CNN or NY Times. Those are just news journals. I mean scientific studies on the subject matter. It's inappropriate to say that someone else is misinformed when they are backing up their knowledge with the proof that exists out there based on statistical scientific study. It's not a stretch to believe that sexual assault can affect sexuality, but it's problematic to say that it is without any study to demonstrate support for that theory.
If you understand what statistical significance means, then you'll know that it's not about saying that the minority of individuals do not matter. It's about determining the likelihood of a relationship. Looking at a study that demonstrates that a statistical majority of individuals (which entails more than just 51>49, or 90>10) have sexual orientations different from those of the sexual assaults that took place would lend stronger evidence to the idea that sexual assault does not cause sexual orientation to "change" and likewise that the belief that victims of sexual assault will become attracted to members of the sex of their assailant is a misnomer.
Stockholm Syndrome is real, but the evidence of that disorder had to undergo study and testing to determine whether or not is was a pattern in victims of sexual assault. So far, I don't think any studies have detected a pattern of sexual orientation of victims being aligned with the sexual nature of their assault.
In a similar vein, think about the ramifications of "mankind judging mankind." Numerous conservatives hold the idea that children of queer couples will be abused, become queer themselves, or function all around worse than children raised by "normal" families. If it was a case of "mankind judging mankind" then we'd all have to accept that this belief has a level of significant weight to it, because Lord knows how many conservatives can testify to children of queer couples being disturbed or queer themselves.
But when several studies were done, they found that children of same-sex couples were NOT shown to have any statistically significant differences in their sexual orientation in comparison to the typical spread of sexual orientation of their peers raised by heterosexual couples. Likewise, studies show that children in same-sex families perform just as well as their peers, if not better.
This questions the validity of the "mankind judging mankind" perspective held by those conservatives because it shows that in a statistically representative population, the relationship viewed by those conservatives does not exist.
You may feel that "numbers" are only used to make results that support one side or the other, but often times, those studies have to be peer reviewed before they are accepted as appropriate studies. The Family Research Council actually published a paper saying that more homosexuals tended to be child molesters in an attempt to push against same-sex adoption. However, the paper is widely panned by other researchers because they look at the data and the design of the study and can tell that it's intentionally biased. When they review other papers, they check for those same issues. Since those papers that state that children of same-sex couples do not have any outstanding problems checked out, we can assume that their findings are legitimate and that no negative relationship exists. There are a series of checks when performing statistical and scientific analysis.
You can read more about that in great detail here:
http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/facts_molestation.html
Relative perspective (or "mankind judging mankind") has no checks and therefore it allows any sort of assumption (no matter how wrong or right it might be) to have equal validity.
The OP was asking for any actual findings that talked about the relationship between the development of sexual orientation/relationships and sexual assault. On a forum it's fine to say what you feel might be true (because personal, relative, perspective has its uses and its level of importance), but it's dangerous to assert that it IS true, or that it's common or typical when it might not be. Since the OP asked for legitimate research, it would seem that what he wants is opinion that either is aware of its lack of authority on the subject matter or info on actual supported studies.
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To the
Alwaysone: Here is a FAQ about male sexual assault. One question deals with sexual identity and assault and another with common experiences of surviving victims. It states that sexual assault is not a reflection of the individual's sexuality before, during, or after it happens and that it does not "change" an individual's sexuality. However, it does note that an effect of assault can cause an individual to
question one's sexuality. Per your question, it also explains what kinds of things a victim may experience following the ordeal (such as "anxiety, anger, sadness, confusion, fear, numbness, self-blame, helplessness, hopelessness, suicidal feelings and shame" or "acting out in a sexually aggressive manner, and even downplaying the impact of the assault."):
http://www.mencanstoprape.org/info-url2699/info-url_show.htm?doc_id=49604
Here is another website from the United States National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder concerning male victims of sexual assault that has the same message:
http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_male_sexual_assault.html
Finally, this is from the University of Wisconsin--Madison:
Unique issues faced by male victims/survivors
The perception that "men can't be sexually assaulted" because a "real man" can protect himself may cause males to feel invulnerable to sexual assault. It may also intensify feelings of isolation and shame after an assault occurs. Male victims/survivors often question whether they deserved or wanted to be sexually assaulted, because they feel that they failed to prevent the assault. Some male victims/survivors question their sexual orientation.
Feelings of guilt, shame, and anger may lead to self-destructive behavior, including increased alcohol or other drug use, increased aggressiveness, and withdrawal from close relationships with friends and partner. After being sexually assaulted, male survivors may experience difficulties with intimacy, such as trusting people, exploring new relationships, or enjoying sexual activity (if choosing to be sexually active). All victims/survivors need to understand that recovery may take time. They need to have patience with themselves and resist the pressure to be sexually active before they are ready.
For heterosexual males who have been assaulted by males, sexual assault may cause them to question or be confused about their sexuality. Unfortunately, many people have distorted ideas about male victims/survivors of sexual assault. For example, many people believe that gay males are more likely to be sexually assaulted. Perpetrators often accuse victims/survivors of enjoying the sexual assault, leading some victims/survivors to question their own experiences or feelings. In fact, being sexually assaulted has nothing to do with one's sexual orientation in the past, present, or future. People do not "become gay" as a result of being sexually assaulted.
Sexual assault can lead gay males to attach feelings of self-blame and self-loathing to their sexual orientation. Sexual assault may lead a gay male to believe he somehow "deserved it," or that he was "paying the price" for his sexual orientation. Ignorance or intolerance from those who blame the victim/survivor can reinforce this belief.
Gay males may also hesitate to report a sexual assault due to fears of blame, disbelief, or intolerance by police or medical personnel. As a result gay males may be deprived of legal protection and necessary medical care following an assault.
Some sexual assaults of males are actually forms of gay-bashing, motivated by fear and hatred of homosexuality. In these cases, perpetrators may verbally abuse their victims and imply that the victim deserved to be sexually assaulted. It's important to remember that sexual assault is an act of violence, power, and control and that no one deserves it.
Here's the link:
http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/display_story.jsp?id=531&cat_id=170
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My advice for finding research about the long-lasting relational effects of molestation and sexual assault is to go to those "general" sites and look in their references section for any research that they can cite. From there it should be easier to locate those actual publications and their findings.
I don't doubt for a second that what happened to you has become a part of who you are, because we are the sum of our experiences. I'm not sure how deep that reach is, though I doubt it affected who you are sexually attracted to, but my feeling is that it may affect your ability to trust people and be intimate with them 15 years after it happened. However, it seems to be a fairly normal effect of molestation/assault and I believe that you can grow from it and out of it and that there are professionals who are aware of the kind of situation you are in and able to assist you in managing the emotional consequences of what occurred.
As for anecdotal experiences, elvin1's post may be helpful as well, as it details his personal experience which you may share.
