Adaptive strategies and recovery from rape

Abstract

The authors conducted a follow-up study of 81 rape victims to analyze the effect of adaptive or maladaptive response to rape on recovery over a 4-6 year period. They found that victims recovering fastest used more adaptive strategies, including positive self-assessment; defense mechanisms of explanation, minimization, suppression, and dramatization; and increased action. Victims who had not yet recovered had more maladaptive mechanisms, such as negative self-assessments, inaction, substance abuse, and action on suicidal thoughts.