NCJ Number
135947
Date Published
1990
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video discusses why men rape, the effects of rape on the victim, cultural conditioning that makes rape acceptable, preventive measures, and what the victim should do immediately after the rape to assist police and mitigate trauma.
Abstract
The video includes comments by rape survivors, a police investigator, an emergency room physician, and a rape counselor. Many of the concepts discussed are dramatized. In profiling the rapist, the video notes that there is no typical rapist, but the reasons men rape include a need to exert power and dominance over the victim, anger that expresses itself in the humiliation of the victim, and sadism. A series of rape myths are identified and challenged in the video narrative. These are misconceptions prevalent in American culture that undermine rational rape prevention and effective responses to rape victims. Cultural conditioning is identified as the primary cause of rape behavior, since it teaches that rape is either acceptable behavior or behavior that must be tolerated. The effects of rape on the victim include anger, shame, helplessness, and the need for revenge. The video recommends that all rape victims undergo counseling to help deal with these feelings. Victims' family members also need counseling. Suggestions for preventing rape focus on the use of protective measures on the street and security measures in the home. Alternative tactics are assessed for the potential victim confronted by a potential rapist. Guidelines for victim action immediately after the rape are provided.