Non-consensual aphrodisiacs in SF

Non-consensual aphrodisiacs are a staple of SF, often paired with the "aliens made them do it" cliché.

They are a method of contriving sexual activity between characters who would not otherwise be having sex together, and therefore a rape-enabling plot device. However, science-fiction stories which address the rapes committed by means of non-consensual aphrodisiacs are rare, and this plot device is used for the reader's titillation. Usually within a very sexist framework.

They are different from consensual aphrodisiacs in that they do not merely enhance sexual desire or performance, but interfere with a character's ability to give consent to sex, and/or by provoking uncontrollable sexual behaviour.

They are the SFnal equivalent of what are called "date-rape" drugs, or roofies, in modern mundane parlance, and have a variety of names.

A common example is having a character who exudes overpowering pheromones, affecting all those around them, although this effect is often sex-linked, and/or limited by sexual orientation. These "natural" sources of non-consensual aphrodisiacs also exist in synthetised or technological forms: sprays, beverages, pills, etc...

Telepathic and other forms of mind control also overlap with this category.

Pornography makes a lot of use of this plot device, and some real-life advertising campaigns (ex: the Lynx/Axe body spray) depict the effects of their products as such.

Examples

On Television

• Alienated: Cameron's pheromones and Isabelle's pimple.
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer: chocolate bars in "Band Candy" revert Giles and Joyce Summers to their teen selves and they have sex (the candy makes people act irresponsibly and is not strictly an aphrodisiac).
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 6th season episode "Dead Things" -- the trio develop a magical device to control any person, and try to make Warren's ex-girlfriend their sex slave
• Farscape: freslin, in "Scratch 'n Sniff"; Grayza's Heppel oil.
• Torchwood (TV series): Owen Harper's perfume in "Everything Changes".
• "The X-Files", first season episode "GenderBender" - While pursuing a series of mysterious deaths, Scully is nearly overwhelmed by deadly pheromones from a member of a religious group.
• While not SF, "Veronica Mars" explores this topic repeatedly.

In Literature

• Catspaw by Joan D. Vinge
• the Pern novels by Anne McCaffrey: dragonriders are overpowered by the passion of their telepathically linked dragons and have sex with each other

Related Topics

• Pon farr (Star Trek)
• "Aliens made them do it"

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