The converse of the submission fantasy is the dominance fantasy in which one forces someone else into various sexual activities. In accord with both socialization and sociobiological theory, this fantasy appears to be more frequent in men than in women. For example, Hunt (1974) found that 13% of men as compared with only 3% of women had the fantasy of forcing someone to have sex. Sue (1979) reported figures of 24% and 16% for men and women, respectively; Miller and Simon (1980); 24% and 6%; Arndt et al. (1985), 39% and 25%; and Person et al. (1989), 31% vs. 5%. In samples of men only. Crepault and Couture (1980) and Grendlinger and Byrne (1987) reported that 33% and 54% of men, respectively, had fantasies of forcing sex on women.
One explanation of the greater frequency of force fantasies among men than among women is that such fantasies are more consistent with sex role stereotypes in Western culture, in which portrayals of male dominance and female subordination and submission are common. This is evident in general social, political, and economic contexts, as well as in specific scenes of sexual interactions between men and women. It is almost routine to see movies in which a male character kisses a woman even though she may have been expressing disinterest, whereupon she enthusiastically submits to further sexual activity. The message conveyed is that if the man is physically forceful and takes the initiative and persists, the woman may respond. In this regard, it is important to note that men are much more likely to be sexually aroused by rape scenes when the female victim is portrayed as changing her mind and enjoying the sex forced on her (Malamuth & Check, 1980). It is uncertain, however, whether violent pornography actually increases the likelihood that men who are not rapists will have rape fantasies. Malamuth (1981) reported results suggesting that it does, whereas W. A. Fisher and Grenier (1994), using similar stimuli and measures, reported results suggesting that it does not.
Another explanation is that dominance fantasies affirm sexual power and irresistibility. In the typical male force fantasy, the woman cannot resist his masculine strength and she becomes sexually aroused despite her initial resistance. In other words, dominance fantasies may serve the same function for men that submission fantasies serve for women. For men, force overwhelms the woman so that she cannot resist desiring him; for women, physical attributes and personality overwhelm the man so that he cannot resist desiring her.
A third explanation draws on comparisons with other species in which males often not only have to engage in fighting or threatening behavior with other males to obtain a female but have to physically pursue and subdue the female before copulation. Sociobiological theory suggests that humans may share in this biological heritage (G. D. Wilson, 1978).
An important issue raised by force fantasies is whether or not they are linked to actual acts of sexual aggression by men against women. We postpone discussion of this issue, however, until we address the more general topic of the role of sexual fantasies in the commission of various sexual crimes, including child sexual abuse and exhibitionism as well as rape.