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Published on: July 4, 2013
Suspect aggression and victim resistance in multiple perpetrator rapes
Jessica Woodhams1, Claire Cooke
1School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Frankland Building, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK, j.woodhams@bham.ac.uk.
Archives of Sexual Behavior
|June 7, 2013
Summary
Rapes by multiple perpetrators show higher aggression. Victim resistance increases suspect aggression, while older victims and incapacitated victims experience less aggression. Group leaders are more aggressive.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Forensic Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Research indicates higher aggression in group rapes compared to lone-perpetrator rapes.
- Factors influencing aggression and victim resistance in sexual offenses require further investigation, particularly in multiple-perpetrator contexts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine factors associated with elevated aggression in multiple-perpetrator rapes.
- To investigate factors potentially linked to victim resistance in these specific offenses.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of police files from 89 multiple-perpetrator stranger rapes against female victims in the UK.
- Behavioral coding of suspect aggression (non-sexual) and victim resistance from police records.
Main Results:
- Victim resistance positively correlated with suspect aggression.
- Older victims and victims incapacitated by substances experienced less aggression.
- Group leaders exhibited higher aggression; fewer perpetrators correlated with greater victim resistance.
Conclusions:
- Victim resistance and suspect aggression are interconnected in multiple-perpetrator rapes.
- Victim characteristics (age, incapacitation) and offender dynamics (leadership, group size) significantly influence aggression levels.
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