Abstract
M.A.
The prevalence of rape in the world and particularly in South Africa, calls for the
understanding of the factors involved in rape. In particular, it is necessary to understand
rape in terms of the victim, not just in terms of the prevalence, causes and social
consequences of rape. The victim’s experience of rape is complicated and takes place over
a journey that progresses from the assault, through her responses and psychological and
social reactions to her recovery from the trauma. It is imperative that a clear understanding
of previous research is gained in order to understand the existing epistemological picture of
the rape victim’s experience. This dissertation has intended to achieve this understanding by
reviewing the literature that has explored rape victim’s responses after the rape, the
psychological and social impact the rape has had and the recovery process after the rape.
In each of these instances the factors that are identified by research as influencing the rape
victim’s experience are surveyed.
The victim’s responses to rape are traumatic. It is therefore important to understand the
nature of trauma and in particular Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Rape Trauma
Syndrome (RTS) in particular describes the traumatic responses of a rape victim. There are
factors that influence the extent that the victim experiences responses to a rape. These
factors include the extent to which a victim is believed about the rape, the extent to which it
is thought that the victim precipitated the assault. Her own attributions about the rape will
also influence her responses, as well as the nature of the assault, the level of violence, prior
victimisation, past psychological treatment or mental illness, poor social support and other
life stresses experienced at the same time as the rape.
The victim does not only respond to the traumatic experience after a rape, but may also
experience the psychological impact a rape may have. Reactions such as fear, anxiety,
anger, aggression, guilt, shame, doubt, depression and psychopathology may be
experienced as psychological reactions to a rape. The victim may also experience the
impact a rape can have on her social functioning. She may withdraw socially and experience
problems in her sexual functioning. The research reviewed indicated that there are factors
that influence the extent that these reactions may impact on the victim’s life, if at all. These
factors include: participation in the justice system, social support received after the rape,
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cognitive appraisals made by the victim and possible psychological problems prior to the
assault.
The final part of a victim’s journey is the recovery. Recovery can be described the
psychological work that is required by the victim. As with the responses and reactions that a
rape victim experiences, the recovery process is also a journey that is dependent on many
influencing factors. The factors that are identified as influencing the recovery process of the
victim, both by enhancing it and by hindering it, include: demographic variables of the victim,
previous victimisation, functioning before the rape (including chronic life stress and family
grief, the nature of the assault, the relationship of the victim to the assailant, social support
received after the rape, and the meaning the victim gives to the ordeal.
This study of the existing literature concerning the journey of the rape victim through the
responses she has after the rape, to the impact of the rape on her psychological and social
functioning, to her recovery has highlighted the importance of influencing factors on this
journey. It has also been noted by this study that there is a lack of evidence that can shed
light on the factors that may influence the South African rape victim’s experience.