The 2004 case did not result in a criminal trial due to insufficient evidence (although a civil case was settled in 2006). But now, due to the magnitude of allegations being levied at Cosby, a judge ordered that Bill Cosby's sworn deposition from the case be un-sealed. According to several internet news outlets Cosby revealed in his deposition that he used prescription drugs (quaaludes) in order to have sex with women.
Rather than speculate on the guilt or innocence of the accused, I would like to propose that we take a hypothetical look at the allegations. Specifically, I would like to examine the possibility that the allegations may offer us some insight into the psychopathology of serial rapists.
It is widely speculated that Bill Cosby has been able to use his fame and fortune to silence many accusers in the past. However, Cosby did not possess the vast amount of wealth, fame or influence in the 1960's to silence his victims as he could in the 1980's and subsequent decades. At most, he may have been protected by his managers as well as the producers certain television programs in which he starred in the 1960's. This shows that he may have developed a pattern of deviant sexual behavior that he refined over several decades. It would not be out of the realm of possibility to speculate that the accused has been engaging in this sexual deviance for years prior to even the earliest allegations.
In essence, if we hypothesize that the allegations dating back to the 1960's are true then we can see a victimizer that needs to have power, dominance and control over his sexual partners in order to be sexually aroused; a sexual deviant that has engaged in a long history of molestation, rape and assault of non-consenting partners. His partners would be nothing more than objects for his own personal enjoyment. The objectification of the victims coupled with the need for dominance is disturbing in that it reveals a psychotic personality disorder.
The following is from Psychology Today:
"Psychopaths are unable to form emotional attachments or feel real empathy with others, although they often have disarming or even charming personalities. Psychopaths are very manipulative and can easily gain people’s trust. They learn to mimic emotions, despite their inability to actually feel them, and will appear normal to unsuspecting people. Psychopaths are often well educated and hold steady jobs. Some are so good at manipulation and mimicry that they have families and other long-term relationships without those around them ever suspecting their true nature."
"Psychopaths are unable to form emotional attachments or feel real empathy with others, although they often have disarming or even charming personalities. Psychopaths are very manipulative and can easily gain people’s trust. They learn to mimic emotions, despite their inability to actually feel them, and will appear normal to unsuspecting people. Psychopaths are often well educated and hold steady jobs. Some are so good at manipulation and mimicry that they have families and other long-term relationships without those around them ever suspecting their true nature."
