NCJ Number
124440
Journal
Polygraph Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: (1990) Pages: 139-146
Date Published
1990
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article describes the behavior of 41 men who raped 831 victims during and following the commission of their sexual assault.
Abstract
The majority of these sexual attacks were premeditated. There are three different styles of approach that were frequently used by the rapists; they represent different means of selecting, approaching, and subduing a chosen victim. The con approach involves subterfuge and is predicted by the rapists ability to interact with women. In the blitz approach, the rapist uses a direct, injurious physical assault which has the result of subduing and physically injuring the victim. The surprise approach involves the assailant waiting for the victim or approaching her after she is sleeping. Two factors determine how rapists maintain control over their victim. These are their motivation for the sexual attack and the passivity of the victim. Victim resistance can be described as passive, verbal, or physical. The offenders most common reaction to resistance was to verbally threaten the victim. The majority of rapists reported low levels of pleasure associated with their crime. It was also noted that one-third of the rapists had consumed alcohol prior to the crime and slightly less used some other drug. This information can be helpful in learning more about offenders and their behaviors and the crime of rape. 15 footnotes.