NCJ Number
55736
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A STUDY INVOLVING SURVEYS OF 146 BOSTON, MASS,. RAPE VICTIMS AND FOLLOWUP OF 80 PERCENT OF THESE VICTIMS 4 YEARS AFTER THE OFFENSE REVEALS THE REAL EFFECTS OF RAPE. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH AREAS ARE CITED.
Abstract
MAJOR FINDINGS FROM THE STUDY SPECIFIC TO VICTIMOLOGY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ARE THAT RAPE IS A FORCED ACT COMMITTED AGAINST THE VICTIM'S WILL AND SUBJUGATES THE VICTIM IN MOST CASES TO DISRUPTION OF HER LIFESTYLE; SEXUAL ASSAULT CUTS ACROSS ALL AGES; MOST VICTIMS USE VERBAL, PHYSICAL, OR COGNITIVE COPING STRATEGIES WHEN THREATENED WITH ATTACK AND, AFTER THE RAPE, TRY TO ESCAPE BY BARGAINING WITH THE OFFENDER, ALERTING OTHERS, OR FREEING THEMSELVES; A RAPE ATTACK CREATES AN EXTERNAL CRISIS SITUATION FOR THE VICTIM AND OFTEN RESULTS IN PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS SUCH AS MUSCULAR TENSION, INABILITY TO SLEEP, AND STOMACH PAIN. THIS STUDY AND OTHER VICTIMOLOGY RESEARCH INDICATES THREE MAIN AREAS FOR FUTURE INVESTIGATION: SPECIAL VICTIM ISSUES SUCH AS MULTIPLE VICTIMIZATION AND CHILD AND HANDICAPPED VICTIMS; SPECIFIC OFFENDER GROUPS SUCH AS YOUNG OR RECIDIVIST OFFENDERS; AND RAPE PREVENTION EFFORTS SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH AGENCY APPROACHES TO RAPE VICTIMOLOGY, AND COOPERATION AND COORDINATION OF VICTIM SERVICES. FURTHERMORE, SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE MADE ON THE BASIS OF THESE FINDINGS. FUNDS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR CRISIS SERVICES TO VICTIMS AND EDUCATION/TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR MEDICAL, PSYCHOLOGY, AND SOCIAL WORK PROFESSIONALS SHOULD INCLUDE NONBIASED MATERIAL ON RAPE VICTIM ASSISTANCE THAT RECOGNIZES THE SPECIAL AND VULNERABLE POSITION OF THE RAPE VICTIM. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (LWM)