The Psychology of Gender 4th Edition

Relationships and Health 435

verbal strategies (screaming) decrease the

likelihood of a completed rape (Ullman,

1997). Nonforceful resistance strategies

(pleading) were ineffective with respect to

rape completion. See Sidebar 11.3 for a dis-

cussion of rape prevention strategies.

Theories

The early theories of rape focused on char-

acteristics of the perpetrator (Donat &

D’Emilio, 1992). The rapist was considered to

be mentally ill and sexually perverted. Thus,

in a sense, researchers focused on the plight

of the perpetrator rather than the plight of

the victim. In addition, rape was considered

upside and a downside to focusing on rape

resistance strategies. The upside is that re-

sistance reduces the likelihood of a com-

pleted rape. The downside is that focusing

on resistance strategies places the burden on

victims—typically women. Some people are

concerned that employing rape resistance

strategies threatens one’s life. However, a re-

view of the literature has shown that forceful

physical resistance strategies are associated

with a slight increase in physical injury but

decrease the likelihood of a completed rape;

nonforceful physical strategies (fleeing,

shielding oneself) decrease the likelihood of

a completed rape and are not associated with

an increase in physical injury; and forceful

SIDEBAR 11.3:Rape Prevention Strategies

Rozee and Koss (2001) developed a strategy for women to resist rape, referred to as the AAA

strategy: assess, acknowledge, and act:

1. After saying “no” to sex, ASSESS the situation to see if it is dangerous.


2. If dangerous, ACKNOWLEDGE this and label the situation as a dangerous one.


3. ACT, employ rape resistance strategies:
   a. Leave the situation if possible.
   b. If not, use verbal strategies.
   c. If verbal strategies are not effective, employ physical tactics (self-defense).
   People commonly perceive that resisting rape will increase the likelihood of further in-
   jury. However, no evidence supports this belief. Attempts to resist rape are more likely to pre-
   vent a rape from occurring. In addition, rape resistance strategies increase women’s sense of
   empowerment.
   In recognition of the fact that rape is as much a man’s problem as a woman’s problem,
   Rozee and Koss (2001) also developed a comparable rape prevention strategy for men, also re-
   ferred to as the AAA strategy: ask, acknowledge, and act. The strategy is depicted as follows:
   1: ASK oneself if the woman is capable of consenting

If yes → ask if she wants to have sex. If no → ACKNOWLEDGE the fact and ACT (stop).

TT

If yes → ACT (sex is OK). If no → ACKNOWLEDGE the fact and ACT (stop).

M11_HELG0185_04_SE_C11.indd 435 6/21/11 12:43 PM