NCJ Number
137872
Journal
EuroCriminology Volume: 4 Dated: (1992) Pages: 105-117
Date Published
1992
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the personality pattern of rape victims on relevant areas of self-confidence, social introversion, psychosthenia, adjustment, and externality.
Abstract
Consideration was also given to certain personal factors, such as offender-victim relationship, attempts to escape, victim's self-perception, friends, neighborhood, police, and doctors. The study sample consisted of indepth case studies of 10 reported rape victims in Madras, India. Rape victims belonged to lower economic groups, with no education or minimal elementary education, and they ranged in age from 17 to 25 years. Results demonstrated that rape victims were mostly unmarried women who were raped primarily in the evening. Most rapists were known to and acquainted with victims before the rape occurred. Most rape victims attempted to run away from the crime situation or verbally refused to consent. Rape victims perceived the family to be unsympathetic, their friends and neighbors to be understanding, and doctors and courts to be sympathetic. They reported treatment by the police as largely positive. Most rape victims were highly introverted; suffered from high psychosthenia; were highly maladjusted to home, health, emotional, and social conditions; and were characterized by externality. 10 foot notes and 4 tables