CONSEQUENCES OF RESISTANCE DURING RAPE - A REVIEW OF THE RESEARCH

• NCJ Number: 61062
• Author(s): W B HOWARD
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 28 pages
• Corporate Author: Nevada Youth Training Ctr
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL LITERATURE ON THE OUTCOME OF RESISTANCE TO RAPE BY A STRANGER IS EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH RESISTANCE INCREASES THE VICTIM'S CHANCE OF ESCAPE OR INJURY.

Abstract

BASIC PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN STUDYING THIS ISSUE ARE THE DEARTH OF SERIOUS RESEARCH ON THE SUBJECT, THE INHERENT BIAS IN STATISTICS USED IN SUCH RESEARCH, AND THE POTENTIAL PRESENCE OF INTANGIBLE BENEFITS OF RESISTANCE UNRECORDED IN EXISTING STUDIES. MOST EXISTING LITERATURE ON RESISTANCE TO RAPE IS BASED ONLY ON POLITICAL THEORY, PERSONAL OPINION, OR HEARSAY. THE LITERATURE ADVOCATING PHYSICAL RESISTANCE (FIGHTING, FLEEING, VERBAL ABUSE) IS CHARACTERIZED BY LACK OF DOCUMENTATION OF OUTCOMES OF THE ADVOCATED RESISTANCE METHODS. NEVERTHELESS, THE BEST AVAILABLE STUDY, THE QUEEN'S BENCH STUDY, INDICATES THAT VERBAL CHALLENGE OF THE ATTACKER PERMITS ESCAPE. SIMILARLY, MUCH OF THE LITERATURE ADVOCATING COOPERATION WITH THE RAPIST IS BASED ON THEORETICAL OR BROAD PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS, BUT LACKS SUPPORTING DATA. THE DENVER ANTICRIME STUDY DID ESTABLISH A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TYPE OF RESISTANCE AND THE CHANCES OF INJURY. IT SHOWED THAT 37 PERCENT OF THE DENVER WOMEN WHO USED SOME TYPE OF RESISTANCE WERE INJURED, BUT 57 PERCENT OF THE RESISTERS DID ESCAPE FROM THE RAPISTS. THEREFORE, THE EMPIRICAL DATA DOES INDICATE THAT RESISTANCE WORKS SOMETIMES, BUT THAT IT INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY OR SERIOUS INJURY. THE LITERATURE SUPPORTS SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS. FIRST, PHYSICAL RESISTANCE OR RETALIATION IS MORE DANGEROUS WITH STRANGERS THAN WITH SUITORS. SECOND, RESISTANCE IS MORE LIKELY TO SUCCEED WHEN THE VICTIM IS NEAR PERSONS WHO COULD HELP. THIRD, RESISTANCE SHOULD TAKE PLACE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RAPE, BUT NOT DURING THE LATER STAGES. FOURTH, VERBAL RESISTANCE IS MORE EFFECTIVE AND LESS DANGEROUS THAN EITHER PHYSICAL RESISTANCE OR SCREAMING. EITHER AGGRESSIVE SWEARING AND CHALLENGING OR REQUESTS FOR SYMPATHY BY CLAIMING ILLNESS OR PREGNANCY, ARE BOTH EFFECTIVE FORMS OF VERBAL RESISTANCE. FOOTNOTES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)