NCJ Number
59191
Journal
Journal of Social Psychology Volume: 108, FIRST HALF Dated: (JUNE 1979) Pages: 83-87
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF OFFENDERS, VICTIMS, AND OFFENSES IN 94 CASES OF RAPE (54 BY BLACKS, 40 BY WHITES) IN GEORGIA ARE EXPLORED.
Abstract
THE ANALYSIS ENCOMPASSES THE VARIABLES OF OFFENDER AGE, EDUCATION, AND RACE; THE VICTIM'S RELATIONSHIP TO THE OFFENDER; AND THE NATURE OF THE OFFENSE (USE OF PHYSICAL) FORCE OR PSYCHOLOGICAL THREAT, IMPULSIVENESS). THE PURPOSE OF THE ANALYSIS IS TO REVEAL ANY RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THESE VARIABLES. WHILE NO HIGHLY ARTICULATED PATTERNS EMERGE, THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT, FOR WHITE RAPISTS, OLDER, LESS EDUCATED MEN TEND TO PLAN AND EXECUTE RAPES OF VICTIMS THEY KNOW (EVEN FAMILY MEMBERS), WHEREAS YOUNGER, BETTER EDUCATED MEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO RAPE STRANGERS IMPULSIVELY. FOR BLACK RAPISTS, OLDER, LESS EDUCATED MEN ARE LESS LIKELY TO INTIMIDATE THEIR VICTIMS, WHEREAS YOUNGER, BETTER EDUCATED MEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO USE THREATS. A TENDENCY TO ACT IMPULSIVELY WITH STRANGERS BUT TO PREMEDITATE THE RAPE OF FAMILIAR VICTIMS EMERGES FOR BLACK RAPISTS AS IT DOES FOR WHITES, BUT FOR BLACKS THIS TENDENCY IS INDEPENDENT OF AGE AND EDUCATION. WHAT IS NOT FOUND IN THE ANALYSIS IS ALSO OF INTEREST. FOR EXAMPLE, THAT PHYSICAL FORCE DOES NOT RELATE MEANINGFULLY TO OTHER VARIABLES MAY MEAN THAT THE USE OF FORCE IS NOT PREDICTABLE, OR THAT ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER ASPECTS OF RAPE IS HIGHLY COMPLEX. THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT WHITE RAPISTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO USE FORCE ON FAMILIAR VICTIMS THAN ON STRANGERS, WHEREAS BLACK RAPISTS EXHIBIT THE OPPOSITE PATTERN. IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE USE OF FORCE IS LINKED MORE TO THE AGGRESSIVENESS OF THE RAPIST OR TO THE RESISTANCE OF THE VICTIM. THE REPORT IS COUCHED IN STATISTICAL TERMINOLOGY. DETAILS OF THE ANALYSIS, BUT NO SUPPORTING TABULAR DATA, ARE PROVIDED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)