Victim's Perspective (From Practical Aspects of Rape Investigation, P 19-41, 1987, Robert R Hazelwood and Ann Wolbert Burgess, eds. - See NCJ-105948)

• NCJ Number: 105950
• Author(s): A W Burgess; R R Hazelwood
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 23 pages
• Sale Source: Elsevier Science
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper examines the rape victim's emotional reactions to the offense, with attention to rape trauma syndrome, and the implications of these reactions for counseling rape victims and conducting police interviews with them.

Abstract

The rape trauma syndrome, an acute phase and long-term reorganization process that occurs as a result of forcible or attempted rape, was identified in a 1979 study by Burgess and Holmstrom which involved interviews with 146 rape victims immediately after the rape and 4 to 6 yeaars later. The acute phase of victim disorganization is manifested immediately after the rape as 'numbness' and cognitive disorientation, which often results in delayed reporting of the rape. The immediate impact of the rape may be revealed in either an expressive or guarded style by the victim and possibly with a mixture of these styles. The acute phase also includes physical reactions (disturbed eating and sleeping patterns), emotional reactions (fear, humiliation, degradation, etc.), and a continual stream of thoughts related to the rape. The long-term process of victim reorganization involves physical, psychological, social, and sexual lifestyles, phobias, and partner reactions. The counseling of rape victims and police interviews with them should be sensitive to the rape trauma syndrome and the kinds of supportive help required to facilitate healthy reorganization in the victim's life. 4 references.