NCJ Number
56039
Date Published
1977
Length
0 pages
Annotation
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF RAPE AND TECHNIQUES FOR COUNSELING THE RAPE VICTIM ARE PRESENTED IN THIS AUDIOCASSETTE AND FILM STRIP PROGRAM FOR MEDICAL AND COUNSELING PERSONNEL.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE OVER 55,000 REPORTED RAPES IN THE UNITED STATES EACH YEAR, THE NUMBER OF UNREPORTED RAPES MAY BE AS HIGH AS 300,000. RAPE IS A CRIME OF DEGRADATION AND OF VIOLENCE. CONTRARY TO COMMON MYTHOLOGY, RAPE IS NOT USUALLY A SEXUALLY MOTIVATED CRIME, RATHER IT IS A PHYSICAL ASSAULT WHICH HAPPENS TO USE SEX AS A WEAPON. EVERY WOMEN HAS A 1 IN 10 POSSIBILITY OF SUFFERING FORCIBLE SEXUAL ASSAULT DURING HER LIFETIME; VICTIMS ARE RARELY WOMEN WHO HAVE 'ASKED FOR IT.' BLAME PLAYS NO PART IN THE COUNSELOR'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VICTIM, RATHER THE TRAINED PROFESSIONAL MUST ASSIST THE RAPE VICTIM THROUGH THE REACTION TO THE ASSAULT, AND THROUGH THE SUBSEQUENT REPRESSION OF THE INITIAL SHOCK AND ANGER. AS THE TRAUMA OF THE RAPE SURFACES AGAIN, THE COUNSELOR MUST HELP THE VICTIM THROUGH THE REGRESSION PHASE OF REACTION UNTIL THE VICTIM HAS RESOLVED HER CONFLICTS AND REGAINED CONTROL OF HER LIFE. RAPE IS ALWAYS A MEDICAL AND A PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY TO WHICH THE POLICE SHOULD RESPOND BY BRINGING THE VICTIM TO A HOSPITAL, EVEN AGAINST HER INITIAL HESITATIONS. MEDICAL PERSONNEL MUST REASSURE THE VICTIM AND BEGIN THE EVIDENCE COLLECTION PROCEDURES. REVIEW MATERIAL AND QUESTIONS ARE PROVIDED IN THE STUDY GUIDE, WITH A TRANSCRIPT OF THE CASSETTE AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THE USE OF THE PROGRAMS' MATERIALS. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK).