Citation

Quinsey VL, Upfold D. Can. J. Behav. Sci. 1984; 17(1): 40-50.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1984, Canadian Psychological Association, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1037/h0080128

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Examined the effectiveness of various victim resistance strategies in avoiding rape and/or physical injury in a sample of rape attacks from which chance interruptions had been removed and the temporal sequence of victim and rapists' behaviors was clear. Victim responses were compared in completed and unsuccessful rape attempts that were made by the same rapist using similar methods. Descriptions of 95 completed rapes and 41 attempted rapes that were committed by 72 men (average age at the time of 1st offense 24.08 yrs) referred to a maximum security psychiatric institution were obtained from victim and police reports. 50 of the victims received slight injury, 15 were more seriously injured, and 2 were murdered. Rapists were more likely to complete the rape when the attack was conducted in an inside location, with a weapon, and not against a stranger. Victims were more likely to avoid being raped when they resisted, particularly when they screamed or yelled for help. There was no positive association between victim resistance and the probability of subsequent injury. Previous reports of resistance being related to victim injury may be because victims resist more strongly when they are being injured. (French abstract) (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

Language: en