Rape Rape Trauma Syndrome
Dictionaries most commonly define rape as a sexual act committed by force especially on a woman. (The American Heritage College Dictionary. 1997 pg. 740) Until a few years ago it was limited to penial penetration of the vagina. Penal Code 261 defines rape as "an act of sexual intercourse accomplished with a person not the spouse of the perpetrator without the lawful consent."(Roberson, 1998, p. 188) Penal Code 263 goes on to say that "the fundamental wrong at which the law of rape is aimed is . . . the violation of a woman's will and sexuality." (Roberson, 1998, p. 190) All other sexual assaults are classified under varied names, yet the aftermath is usually the same. Rape is one of the cruelest forms of criminal violence. The victim suffers a profound injury. Rendered powerless by physical force, threats, or fear, after which being forced to submit to sexual acts, including vaginal penetration, oral copulation, sodomy, and penetration opening with a foreign object, the victim is left virtually alone. Rape is an intrusion into the most private and intimate parts of the body, as well as an assault on the core of the self. Despite whether the victim suffers any physical trauma, th
After sometime, most victims enter the next stage of acute stress; acute means it usually lasts less than three months. (A&R, 1990) (DSM-IV) This is a major stage containing most of the diagnostic criteria according to the DSM-IV; including sleeping disorders, anxiety, and mostly a large preoccupation with the event. Fear is also a major feeling during this stage, victims can become hypersensitive to their surroundings and may begin to repeat safety rituals, such as checking door locks, and window many times. (DSM-IV) Other extensive symptoms include feelings of guilt and self-blame. (A&R, 1990) Rape is a hard crime to explain to a victim so they begin to turn inward to find the reason it happened. (A&R, 1990) There are two kinds of self-blame: the first is behavioral, the victim decides that she or he made a mistake in placing themselves in the situation. (A&R, 1990) The second is characterological, the victim decides that the rapist was punishing them for being a bad person. (A&R, 1990) 6) Jerabek, Ilona, (1998). Retrieved October 13, 1999 from World Wide Web: 2) American Heritage College Dictionary, The. (1997). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company Rape trauma syndrome is the acute phase and long-term reorganization process that occur because of forcible rape or attempted forcible rape. (Bergess & Holmstrom, 1974) Researchers have identified stages that the victim goes through while suffering the effects of victimization. (Abarbanel & Richman, 1990)
Some common words found in the essay are:
Abarbanel Richman, Penal Code, Gallers Grossman, Trauma Center, College Dictionary, a&r 1990, Syndrome Dictionaries, Bergess Holmstrom, rape trauma, jerabek 1998, Journal Psychiatry, impact rape, Trauma Treatment, Criminal Codes, rape trauma syndrome, trauma syndrome, victim suffers, trauma treatment, heritage college dictionary, feeling control, trauma jerabek, 1990 dsm-iv, college dictionary 1997, a&r 1990 dsm-iv, american heritage college,
Approximate Word count = 2228
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
