NCJ Number
47155
Date Published
1977
Length
10 pages
Annotation
TRENDS IN THE LITERATURE ON VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ARE IDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED IN A REVIEW FOCUSING ON THE VICTIM AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND ON THE EFFECTS OF THE ASSAULT, THE VICTIM'S RESPONSE, AND HER TREATMENT.
Abstract
THERE HAS BEEN A RAPID CHANGE IN ORIENTATION TO VICTIMS IN THE 1970'S. THE VICTIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IS BEING VIEWED INDEPENDENTLY RATHER THAN AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE ACT. EARLY CLINICAL PUBLICATIONS ON RAPE VICTIMS TENDED TO BE LIMITED TO CASE HISTORIES OR PRESENTATIONS OF TECHNIQUES OF MEDICAL EXAMINATION. THE EARLY LITERATURE EMPHASIZED THE STRESS, PHYSICAL TRAUMA, AND SUFFERING EXPERIENCED BY THE RAPE VICTIM, COUNTERING PAPERS THAT QUESTIONED VICTIMS' PASSIVE OR PROVOCATIVE ROLES IN THE ASSAULT. RAPE AS JUSTIFICATION FOR ILLEGAL ABORTION WAS AN ISSUE IN EARLY VICTIM-ORIENTED LITERATURE. IN 1974, OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES OF VICTIMS AND EXAMINATIONS OF SPECIAL POPULATIONS AND SITUATIONS BEGAN. A MORE COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF RAPE VICTIMS EMERGED. INFORMATION FROM SELF-REPORTS OF VICTIMS YIELDED VALIDATION OF POSTASSAULT EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL REACTIONS. THE CLINICAL LITERATURE POINTED OUT THE IMPACT OF NEGATIVE REACTIONS OF SIGNIFICANT OTHERS ON THE VICTIM'S ADJUSTMENT. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SOME COUNSELING GUIDELINES, THERE HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY FEW ARTICLES ON TREATMENT. THERE IS A NEED FOR MORE RESEARCH ON THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF RAPE, THE IMPACT ON MALE VICTIMS AND YOUTHS, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RAPE VICTIM'S EMOTIONAL RECOVERY AND THE REACTIONS OF THOSE IMPORTANT TO HER, AND THE INFLUENCES OF THE RESPONSE OF SOCIETAL INSTITUTIONS. (LKM)