Am J Psychiatry 1976; 133:408-413
Copyright © 1976 by American Psychiatric Association
The rape victim: psychodynamic considerations
MT Notman and CC Nadelson
Rape challenges a woman's ability to maintain her defenses and thus arouses
feelings of guilt, anxiety, and inadequacy. Women's individual responses
are determined by life stage considerations as well as their defensive
structures: concerns about separation-individuation may be aroused in the
young woman; a divorced or separated woman may find her credibility
questioned; older women's fears of sexual inadequacy may be compounded. In
counseling, the victim's previous adjustment should be assessed, she should
be given support and reassurance, and specific considerations related to
her life circumstances should be acknowledged and dealt with.
