The Sexual Socialization and Parenting Styles and the Lack of Secure Attachment Provided to Adolescent Rapists by their Families

The Annual Note of the National Commission on Violence Against Women states that the number of cases of violence against women was quite high in Indonesia between 2015 and 2018 (Komisi nasional Anti kekerasan terhadap perempuan [The National Commission on Violence Against Women] 2015; (Annual Record) komnas perempuan tahun 2015; Komisi nasional Anti kekerasan terhadap perempuan [The National Commission on Violence Against Women] 2016; (Annual Record) komnas perempuan tahun 2016; Komisi nasional Anti kekerasan terhadap perempuan [The National Commission on Violence Against Women] 2017; (Annual Record) komnas perempuan tahun 2016; Komisi nasional Anti kekerasan terhadap perempuan [The National Commission on Violence Against Women] 2018; (Annual Record) komnas perempuan tahun 2018). Sexual violence secured the top position among cases of aggression against women between 2014 and 2017 and rape cases registered highest in the cases of sexual violence from year to year: in 2014, a total of 1033 cases were filed; 2,448 cases were reported in 2015; 1468 cases were registered in 2016; and 1530 cases occurred in 2017 (Komisi nasional Anti kekerasan terhadap perempuan [The National Commission on Violence Against Women] 2015; (Annual Record) komnas perempuan tahun 2015; Komisi nasional Anti kekerasan terhadap perempuan [The National Commission on Violence Against Women] 2016; (Annual Record) komnas perempuan tahun 2016; Komisi nasional Anti kekerasan terhadap perempuan [The National Commission on Violence Against Women] 2017; (Annual Record) komnas perempuan tahun 2016; Komisi nasional Anti kekerasan terhadap perempuan [The National Commission on Violence Against Women] 2018; (Annual Record) komnas perempuan tahun 2018). According to the data collected by the Indonesian Child Protection Commission in 2018, instances of rape by children have been rampant since 2011 and cases of rape by children increased from 147 in 2016 to 168 in 2017 (Anak 2018). The promotion of sexuality is considered taboo in Indonesian society. Most families do not clearly socialize their children to the notion of sexuality. This study aims to determine the process of sexual socialization and the parenting styles evinced by families of adolescent rapists. It finds that the values and norms with regard to appropriate sexual behavior are ill-absorbed by such children because their families are not able to establish secure attachment with them. Insecure attachment can increase children’s access to information about sexuality from socialization agents other than family with whom they feel safe. The present case study uses the qualitative research methodology and the results obtained from the investigation illustrate that the authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved parenting styles create insecure attachment in children. The outcomes of the study lead to the conclusion that the sexual socialization obtained by adolescent rapists is incomplete and that the information they receive lacks clarity because their parenting tends to be authoritative, uninvolved, or permissive, and lacks adequate monitoring. When socialization and parenting occur without secure attachment, adolescent rapists are able to seek sexual socialization from other agents such as peers and the mass media without adequate control being established on such interactions.