Editing Gang rape (section)

== Perpetrator characteristics ==
Gang rapes are typically perpetrated by two or more men,<!--NOTE: Wikipedia uses information from WP:Reliable sources, with WP:Due weight. Such sources report that the perpetrators are usually men.--> and tend to have somewhat different characteristics than rapes by individuals. For instance, gang rapists tend to be younger<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ullman |first=S. E. |date=1999 |title=A comparison of gang and individual rape incidents |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10418766/ |journal=Violence and Victims |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=123–133 |doi=10.1891/0886-6708.14.2.123 |issn=0886-6708 |pmid=10418766|s2cid=29069025 }}</ref> and are more often [[Recidivism|repeat offenders]], and the gang is more likely to be under the influence of [[drug]]s or [[Alcohol (drug)|alcohol]].

Gang rapes are more violent on average compared to its individual counterpart, with significantly more severe sexual and non-sexual injuries to the victim. The gang members also typically [[Dehumanization|dehumanize]] the victim more before and during the rape.<ref name=rape1>Ullman, Sarah (1999). A comparison of gang and individual rape incidents. Violence and victims, 14(2), pp. 123–133</ref><ref name=rape2>Porter, L. E., & Alison, L. J. (2001). A Partially Ordered Scale of Influence in Violent Group Behavior An Example From Gang Rape. Small Group Research, 32(4), pp. 475–497</ref><ref name=rape3>{{cite journal | author = Berkowitz A | year = 1992 | title = College men as perpetrators of acquaintance rape and sexual assault: A review of recent research | journal = Journal of American College Health | volume = 40 | issue = 4| pages = 175–181 | doi=10.1080/07448481.1992.9936279| pmid = 1583239 }}</ref> Gang rapes are almost always [[premeditated]] in their intent, target victim(s), [[social proof]], and psychological causes.<ref>Smith, Merril (Ed.). (2004). Encyclopedia of rape. Greenwood Publishing Group.</ref><ref>Ellis, Lee (Ed.). (1989). Theories of Rape: Recent Inquiries Into the Causes of Sexual Aggression. Taylor & Francis.</ref>{{clarify|date=October 2022}} Social factors such as [[civil war]]s, [[hate propaganda]], and ethnic conflicts increase the rate of gang rape.<ref>Thompson, Allan (Ed.) (2007), The media and the Rwanda genocide. IDRC, {{ISBN|978-9970-02-595-4}}</ref><ref>Barnes, A. (Ed.). (2005). The handbook of women, psychology, and the law. John Wiley & Sons</ref>

Rape gang members often have a binding force such as the same [[Race (human categorization)|race]], or place of residence thereby forming a close-knit [[peer pressure]] group, encouraged by the behavior of their fellow criminals.<ref name=rape1/><ref name=rape2/><ref name=rape3/> Gang rape can result from a group form of [[criminal spin#Group|criminal spin]], in which the group starts with less serious offenses which ultimately lead them to go well beyond their initial intention.

In a 2013 study based on 25-year crime data from [[United States|US]] and [[Europe]], between 10% and 20% of all rapes were gang rapes. Less than one in three gang rapes are reported, while less than 1 in 20 attempted but failed gang rapes are reported.<ref name=ullman/>