Male sexual aggression can be a frightening and potentially dangerous issue in society. Realistically, the causes are most likely many, and they are a combination of biology, social environment and outlying factors such as alcohol. For some men, sexual aggression occurs only occasionally. For others, it is a repeated experience. Some experts believe that the root of male sexual aggression lies in the media's portrayal of male sexuality; others claim that it is behavior inherited by parents and family members. This type of behavior can have detrimental affects on society for both men and women.

Sexual aggression comes in many forms. According to Barbara Krahe in her book "The Social Psychology of Aggression," sexual aggression embodies many forced sexual activities. These may include more physical acts such as kissing, petting, oral sex, and intercourse. They can also include sexual ha****ment, unwanted sexual advances and even inappropriate phone calls.

Situational Factors

One factor that impacts the likelihood of male sexual aggression is environment. Different types of social settings can largely impact the level of aggression displayed by men. For instance, many researchers have devoted time to analyzing the incidence of rape on college campuses. In large part, this occurs because college campuses generally have a higher percentage of rapes than off-campus areas. According to CrisisConnectionInc.org, 43% of college men admit that they have used or use coercive behavior to illicit sex, including sexual aggression and forcing intercourse.

Combination Causes

Many studies have found strong correlations between multiple factors that seem to influence the prevalence of sexual aggression in men. According to one study, published in the Journal of Family Violence, risk factors for college male sexual aggression included alcohol use, pornography consumption and gender attitudes, (Carr & Vandeusen). They also found a significant incidence of alcohol-related sexual coercion.

Culture and Expectation

Another widely accepted theory concerning sexual aggression involves societal norms and cultural expectations. Sexually aggressive encounters portrayed in the media--and even within the familial structure--can create an environment of male superiority that may influence sexual aggression. The appearance that aggressive men are sought after--while passive women are depicted as desirable--may also perpetuate sexually aggressive behavior among men.

Evolution and Biology

Two more factors that appear to contribute to sexual aggressiveness in men are biology and evolution. According to Intropsych Website, when male mammals win a fight, their levels of testosterone (the sex hormone) increases. This enhances the likelihood of reproductive success for the fight winner and improves his access to female mammals. Although human beings are more developed than most mammals, evolutionary biology implies that this process may continue to influence modern humans.