Hollywood Sex Revelations: What Makes A Sexual Predator A Sexual Predator

The Hollywood sex revelations shine a light on an issue that has resulted in the victimization of countless individuals.  To combat widespread sexual misconduct and assault, it is necessary to understand those responsible.  It is necessary to understand what makes a sexual predator a sexual predator.  A predator on the hunt will deploy an array of tactics and deceptions to acquire their target.  A predator will do anything to get its prey.  By this qualification alone, most men and teenage boys, as well as many women and girls, would be considered sexual predators.  Obviously, the sexual predators who cause their victims harm are the abusive sexual predators whose actions must be confronted.  

​When someone feels she, or he, is a victim of sexual misconduct or assault, the validity of the allegations should never be questioned.  A presumed victim should also receive the full care and support every victim deserves.  On the other hand, not everyone accused of sexual misconduct or assault is guilty.  Unfortunately, there are numerous circumstances where individuals feel victimized by the actions of others, yet the alleged perpetrator never intended to cause anyone any harm.  These kind of situations are very difficult and troubling for all those involved.  The confusion these situations create also make it very difficult to crackdown on genuine sexual predators.  It requires clarity.
 
When it comes to the Hollywood sex revelations, the accusations made against men like Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, James Toback, Chris Savino, Roy Price, and far too many more are strikingly clear cut.  Allegations like “unwanted advances” are highly subjective and easily the product of misunderstandings, but remarks containing explicit sexual requests, uninvited touching, and displays of public nudity are clear examples of sexual misconduct.  Masterbatating in front of others, e.g. Harvey Weinstein, Louis CK, and others, is not something someone asks others to watch, even if the would-be observer appears to be interested.  Similarly, it is never acceptable to initiative a sexual relationship by sticking your hands down someone’s pants, e.g. Kevin Spacey.
 
Frankly, the outrageous behavior of Hollywood’s sexual predators seems more like fiction than fact, yet it makes sense from the perspectives of sexual predators.  It is important to recognize not all acts of sexual misconduct are crimes.  Rape and others forms of sexual assault, as well as harassment, are crimes.  Whether or not the actions of a sexual predator are crimes, or fulfill the often high burden of proof, sexual misconduct and assault fall under the category of sexual abuse.  Because sexual harassment, misconduct, and assault can be highly subjective, it is helpful to focus on sexual abuse in order to understand the egregious behavior of sexual predators as well as the behavior of non-sexual predators who have been accused of sexual misconduct.  
 
Sexual abuse is a like any form of abuse, which can be understood as an extreme of natural human behavior.  In the pursuit of their interests, people can be anywhere from passive to assertive to aggressive to abusive.  Ideally, all people would be equally assertive in the pursuit of their sexual interests, but some are more passive than others while others are more aggressive.  Sexually passive individuals, for example, can easily feel like victims of even assertive sexual acts.  They are also more likely to become victims of sexually aggressive and abusive individuals, because they are unlikely to stop unwanted sexual advances.  A sexually aggressive individual, in contrast, will actively pursue sexual conquests.  A sexually aggressive person becomes abusive when he, or she, refuses to take “no” for an answer.  
 
Sexually aggressive and abusive individuals fail to consider the interests of their targets.  Their sole focus is their sexual desire.  They may justify their overly aggressive and abusive behavior as mutually beneficial to their prey, but they fail to honestly consider the actual impact on those they are hurting.  Whether or not sexual encounters are consensual, victims of overly aggressive and abusive individuals do not feel they have a choice, which is what hurts them.  As Lewis CK stated it, “…when you have power over another person, asking them to look at your dick isn't a question.  It's a predicament for them.”  Power comes in many forms and aggressive to abusive people, whether intentionally or not, will use that power to strip their victims of their power to choose.
 
Like the broader media industry, the entertainment industry is filled with individuals who blissfully ignore the consequences of their actions and willfully offer unquestioned acceptance for anyone facing judgement over their sexual preferences.  In this libertine culture, abusive sexual predators thrive.  Not only do elitist predators create victims, they create other victimizers by building an environment where aggressive and abusive behavior is the norm.  They train people to use others as sexual objects.  They create situations where even non-sexual predators unknowingly victimize women, children, and men, which helps shields them from the consequences of their actions.  To deal with the epidemic of sexual abuse in Hollywood and beyond, overly aggressive and sexually abusive behavior must be confronted for what it is.