Beyond individual limits: influence of group size on multiple perpetrator sexual assault

Abstract

This research compares Multiple Perpetrator Sexual Assault (MPSA) cases committed by two perpetrators (n = 299) with more than two perpetrators (n = 192) in Spain. Group size is analysed as a continuous variable. Perpetrators who act in groups of two are older than those who act in larger groups, with women more commonly found in groups of more than two perpetrators. Groups of two perpetrators record known victims, while larger groups tend to have unknown victims. Penetration was common in cases with two perpetrators, and violence was common in larger groups. Group size analyses showed that cases from larger groups tended to record less penetration as well as more use of general violence and verbal violence. The strong presence of violence suggests that MPSA seek not so much to satisfy a sexual need, but rather that they may be responding to the need to exercise a sexualised non-instrumental violence. The presence of young perpetrators necessitates further investigation into their motivations and the evolution of their criminal careers, which will be fundamental for developing specific treatment programs. This characteristic of the authors, coupled with the vulnerability of certain types of victims, makes it imperative to identify risk situations to create effective prevention strategies.