UNIT 7: SEXUAL ASSAULT
1) CRITERIA TO DETERMINE WHETHER SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR IS ABNORMAL
1) When the behaviour derives from anxiety, inner conflict or inner compulsions
2) When the behaviour causes anxiety in the individual and/or the sex partner
3) When behaviour doesn’t provide gratification to individual &/or sex partner, while alternative possibilities
for gratification exist
4) When the persons general psychological functioning is seriously impaired
5) When the behaviour injures upsets or humiliates the sex partner
6) When the behaviour involves coercion, force/manipulation of the sex partner
7) When the sex partner cannot consent to having sex due to intellectual and/or psychological limitations
2) RAPE
Any person who unlawfully & intentionally commits an act of sexual penetration with another person
without the person’s consent = commits rape
Penetration no matter how slight, of vagina/anus with any body part/object, or oral penetration by sex
organ of another person, without consent of victim
Old definition only described for female against her will
New definition includes females & males, with various forms of sexual penetration (including
sodomy & sexual assault with objects)
Types of rape:
Forcible rape & Marital rape
Statutory rape (non-forcible sexual intercourse with person under statutory age of consent)
Rape by fraud (having sexual relations with consenting adult under fraudulent conditions)
Date rape (in context of a dating relationship)
Acquaintance rape (victim knows assailant)
3) IMPACT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ON SURVIVORS
INCIDENCE & Actual rate is underestimated due to definition problems & victims who don’t report
PREVALENCE At least 1.5 million in SA each year (42 596 in 2016 & 15 000 children)
Victimised twice = by perpetrator & then by CJS
Subject to scrutiny by media & public
PSYCHOLOGICAL Self-blame as being responsible for the assault
EFFECTS Psychological distress that can lead to PTSD, serious depression, extensive fears &
problems of sexual adjustment (most never addressed in treatment settings)
4x more likely to commit suicide = damage is long lasting
60%experience physical injury during the incident such as cuts, bruises, internal injuries,
broken bones/gunshot wounds (can transmit various STD’s)
PHYSICAL INJURY
Children: not ready to have sexual intercourse & may have pain as they can’t
accommodate it yet
4) SEXUAL ASSAULT VULNERABILITY FACTORS
Situational factors: depends on whether perpetrator is stranger/acquaintance
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