The rape victim: psychodynamic considerations

Rape challenges a woman's ability to maintain her defenses and thus arouses feelings of guilt, anxiety, and inadequacy. Women's individual responses are determined by life stage considerations as well as their defensive structures: concerns about separation-individuation may be aroused in the young woman; a divorced or separated woman may find her credibility questioned; older women's fears of sexual inadequacy may be compounded. In counseling, the victim's previous adjustment should be assessed, she should be given support and reassurance, and specific considerations related to her life circumstances should be acknowledged and dealt with.