NCJ Number
61399
Journal
Alcohol Health and Research World Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 34-37
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
AN ARTICLE ON THE POSSIBLE CONNECTION BETWEEN RAPE AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, INCLUDING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND AGGRESSION, CONCLUDES THAT THE FINAL ANSWER AWAITS FURTHER STUDY.
Abstract
ASSUMPTIONS OF CAUSAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND RAPE SHOULD BE MADE WITH CAUTION, ALTHOUGH STUDIES SHOW A SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE TWO. RECENT STUDY CONCLUSIONS VARY, BUT BETWEEN 20 AND 50 PERCENT OF SEX OFFENDERS HAD BEEN DRINKING BEFORE THE CRIME WHICH OFTEN INCLUDED SEXUAL HUMILIATION. OTHER FACTORS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT INCLUDE DETERMINING THE ABSENCE OR PRESENCE OF ALCOHOL IN THE VICTIM, AND THE SOCIAL CONTEXT IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE RAPE. PSYCHOENDOCRINOLOGY QUESTIONS THE LINK BETWEEN AGGRESSION, THE MEAN LEVEL OF TESTOSTERONE, AND RAPE, AND THE LINK BETWEEN THESE FACTORS AND ALCOHOLISM. EVIDENCE DOES NOT FULLY SUPPORT ANY ONE THEORY, INCLUDING BIOCHEMICAL, THE DISINHIBITION, OR THE DIRECT EFFECT THEORIES. ANY ATTEMPT TO DISCOVER A CONNECTION BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND RAPE WILL NEED TO CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS OF AGGRESSION, SEXUALITY, ALCOHOL USE, ALCOHOL ABUSE, AND ALCOHOLISM. A SHORT LIST OF REFERENCES COMPLETE THE THE ARTICLE. (RFC)