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perpetrators

The contents of this page can be triggering and difficult to process– it includes information regarding characteristics of Sexual Assault perpetrators, Rape, and Sexual/Domestic/Mental Abuse. If any of the information is hurtful, please reach out to the contacts located in the Home page. For more information or questions, feel free to reach out to the Dramaturgs.

A Mindset –
The Process, Execution, and Aftermath 

The behaviors of Sexual Assault perpetrators has been explored and studied a great deal recently. From this, reviews say that perpetrators maintain a cycle in their actions: 

(1) planning on a conscious or unconscious level prior to the offense,

(2) committing the offense, and

(3) forming thoughts after the offense allowing the individual to commit sexual assault again in the future.

 

Although some perpetrators make deliberate decisions about how, when, and where to subdue a victim, most make a series of seemingly irrelevant decisions that eventually lead to the commission of a sexual assault.

 

At the same time, research has found that perpetrators’ behavior during the assault can be very different depending on whether they are strangers or acquaintances of the victim.

External Resources

Ted Talk:
"Violence against women -- it's a men's issue"
Dr. Jackson Katz

Victim to Perpetrator Tendencies –

Gathered from Solanky Paul(psychologist), Prakriti Gupta(Counselor), and the Mindtribe Healthcare PVT. LTD.​
 

Types of Abuse:

​​​

  • Physical Abuse

  • Non Contact

  • Emotional Abuse

  • Psychological Abuse

  • Grooming

Reasoning for Perpetrators:

  • Power and control

    • Used to exert power over vulnerable individuals;​

    • Children are perceptive to this due to their dependency for support and protection.

  • Psychological factors

  • Social norms

  • Family dynamics

    • Dysfunctional family households can elevate the risk of rebellion.​

  • Access and opportunity

    • Perpetrators will often exploit the situations they're in– such as institutions and schools.​

  • Lack of awareness

  • Structural factors

Victim Psychological Nuances:

  • Severe exposure to trauma and stress;

  • Depression, eating disorders, suicidal feelings, flashbacks, and low self esteem;

  • Future physical/sexual abuse problems, relationship/intimacy problems;

  • Family breakdown – which can lead to the victim being blamed for it;

  • Forced connection with the perpetrator if it's a loved one, friend, co-worker, or figure of authority.

  • Whereas male survivors more often direct their reactions externally, female survivors are more likely to internalize feelings and express them in self-destructive behavior.

Perpetrators Psychological Nuances:

  • Psychopathic personality

    • Lack of remorse, empathy, responsibility;​

    • Use of impulsivity.

  • Neuroticism

  • Lack of empathy

  • Impulsivity

  • Family history

Studies

  • A group of researchers found that not all perpetrator's abusive behavior comes from a history of Sexual Assault themselves, but rather due to bullying, emotional abuse, or behavioral difficulties. (Tidefors et al. – 2010)

  • A study in 2012 stated that children who are sexually assaulted might be coerced into believing the abuse is either "normal" or "a game" by caregivers, friends/family, and members of the community– which can result in the victims not showing distress. (Ballentine)

Treatments

  • There are a number of treatments that are given to victims– and sometimes perpetrators as well. These are:

    • Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy​

    • Cognitive Processing Therapy for Sexually Abused

    • Psychoparmacological Interventions;

    • Family and Group Therapy.

Sexual Assault/Rape Cases

(Via RAINN)

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