Victim Responses by Rapist Type

Abstract
This study of 108 convicted, incarcerated rapists and their 389 victims had two goals. The first goal was to examine empirically the hypothesized interaction of differentiated subgroups of rapists with combative and noncombative victim responses. If such an interaction exists, it is imperative to understand its implications for a potential victim of sexual assault. Consequently, the second goal was to address that issue by setting forth clinically derived recommendations for alternative resistive responses based upon the presumptive psychological and motivational themes underlying four subgroups of rapists. Although relatively abstract suggestions are being made about behavior in a highly traumatic situation, knowledge may be the only weapon a victim has. As such, knowledge can provide a sense of power as well as the confidence necessary to act rather than resign out of helplessness.

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