Research Article

Abstract

Rape experience is common and victim empathy may help address it (e.g., prevention, victim support). We examined rape victim empathy based on type of rape experience (none, incapacitated, forcible, combined). Undergraduate women ( n = 658) completed the Rape Victim Empathy-During Subscale and Sexual Experiences Survey-Short Form Victimization. Rape experience was associated with greater empathy, especially for those with any forcible experience. Perhaps due to weaker memory of their own rape event, incapacitated victims may be relatively less able than forcible victims to understand another victim's perspective during a rape. Researchers should consider examining incapacitated and forcible rape as distinct experiences.

Faculty Members

• Tieryn R. Gingerich - Department of Psychology, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, USA
• Suzanne L. Osman - Department of Psychology, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, USA

Themes

• Implications for prevention and victim support
• Empathy differences based on rape type
• Rape experience
• Type of rape
• Victim empathy

Categories

• Research and experimental psychology
• Counseling and applied psychology nec
• Psychology
• Sociology, general
• Public health education and promotion
• Counseling psychology
• Sociology, demography, and population studies nec
• Area, ethnic, cultural, gender, and group studies nec
• Counseling and applied psychology
• Health sciences
• Social sciences
• Public health
• Behavioral neuroscience
• Area, ethnic, cultural, gender, and group studies
• Social psychology
• Public health, general
• Sociology, demography, and population studies