The Hidden Rape Victim: Personality, Attitudinal, and Situational Characteristics

TLDR

Hidden rape victims are those who never report their experience, and only 10–50 % of rapes are reported, leaving such victims overlooked by prior studies. This study aims to describe the victimization of hidden rape victims and assess whether psychological variables predict victimization status. Researchers examined personality, attitudes, and situational factors across 82 non‑victimized, 37 low, 50 moderate, and 62 highly victimized women using questionnaires, interviews, and multivariate analysis. Personality and attitudes failed to differentiate victimization groups, whereas several situational variables did, offering new theoretical insights.

Abstract

A hidden rape victim is one who has never reported her experience to a rape crisis center or to police. It has been estimated that only 10–50% of the rapes that actually occur are ever reported to authorities. Since most previous rape studies have selected samples from official sources, hidden victims have been overlooked. The goals of the present study were to describe the victimization experienced by hidden victims and to determine whether any psychological variables were related to victimization status. The psychological variables examined included personality, attitudinal, and situational characteristics relevant to the three major models of rape victimization: social control, victim precipitation, and situational blame. Subjects were 82 not sexually victimized, 37 low sexually victimized, 50 moderately victimized, and 62 highly sexually victimized women. Subjects completed questionnaires and participated in a one-to-one standardized interview. Data were analyzed via multivariate analysis of variance. Personality variables and attitudes did not differentiate the groups of women, while numerous situational variables did. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.