Behavior displayed by female victims during rapes committed by lone and multiple perpetrators.

Abstract

Research with both the general public and members of the criminal justice system reports a pervasive rape myth of a violent offender and a physically resistant victim. Despite research being conducted on victims' postrape behavior, few studies have examined victim behavior during sexual assaults, and many of those which have been conducted have tended to focus on physical resistance. This article reports two studies that examined qualitatively the behavior of female rape victims during sexual assaults. The first study is an analysis of 78 stranger sexual assaults, committed in the United Kingdom, by male offenders. The second study is an analysis of 89 allegations of stranger rape, again from the United Kingdom, perpetrated by multiple male suspects. Information about victim behavior was extracted from victims' accounts made to the police. More than 100 different victim behaviors were identified in each study, and more than 80 behaviors were common across studies. Myth-congruent behaviors were present in the sample; however, the behaviors engaged in by victims were complex and diverse. Indirect and face-saving communications were used by victims and are discussed in terms of expectations regarding victim behavior and rape stereotypes. The implications of the findings for training legal professionals, educating jurors, and counseling victims are discussed

Expectations about victim and offender behaviour during stranger rape

“…This review established that the current literature had a very limited understanding of victims' behaviours in stranger rape with Woodhams, Hollin, Bull, and Cooke (2012) providing the only detailed review. While there were more studies of offender behaviour, a lack of consistency in behaviour terminology and how behaviours were defined meant that it was challenging to establish the frequency of some behaviours.…”

Community Males Show Multiple-Perpetrator Rape Proclivity

“…This could be, in part, due to the group element of MPRs and the subsequent difficulties of identifying multiple perpetrators (Chambers, et al, 2010). The group dynamic added to the already pervasive rape myths increases the likelihood of multiple perpetrators remaining undetected (Woodhams, Hollin, Bull, & Cooke, 2011).This signifies a need to conduct research with members of the general public rather than solely apprehended individuals. We can learn more about the psychological characteristics of perpetrators of MPR who are successful at evading arrest and prosecution, and we can make valuable comparisons between those who are apprehended and those who are not.…”

Victim Gender, Number of Perpetrators, and Interpersonal Interaction in Stranger Rape: An Analysis of Direct and Moderator Effects

“…Therefore, there is a need to examine the situational influences on offender behaviour. Woodhams, Hollin, Bull, and Cooke's (2012) analysis of victim behaviour in stranger multiple rape is an interesting example of such an approach, and a similar study focusing on male and female victims would be of obvious utility to further our understanding of the issues raised here.…”