A Men's Support Group for Significant Others of Rape Victims

Abstract

This article discusses the trauma for rape as experienced by women rape victims and focuses on a men's support group for male‐significant‐others of women who have been raped. The project describes the various developmental phases through which the male‐significant‐others of rape victims must pass in order to achieve resolution and the impact of the male's response upon the relationship with the victim.

A systematic literature review of “rape victims” versus “rape survivors”: Implications for theory, research, and practice

“…In general, the rape victim literature has focused on assessing primarily negative reactions (for a review, see Ahrens & Campbell, 2000). For example, affective responses identified in the literature have included anger, rage, resentment, physical revulsion, anxiety, concern, hostility, intrusive thoughts, low self-esteem/self-worth, powerlessness, post-traumatic stress disorder, vulnerability, guilt, self-blame, helplessness, desires for revenge and retribution, depression, fearfulness, denial, humiliation, resentment, shame, emotional drain, hurt, loss (e.g., of one's sense of security, of one's view of the world as fair), grief, shock, and feelings of being trapped, of failure to protect the victim, of threats to self-image, and of inadequacy (Burge, 1983;Emm & McKenry, 1988;Feinauer, 1982;Feinauer & Hoppolite, 1987;Figley, 1983;Holmstrom & Burgess, 1979;Miller, Williams, & Bernstein, 1982;Mitchell, 1991;Remer & Elliot, 1988;Riggs & Kilpatrick, 1997;Rodkin, Hunt, & Cowan, 1982;Silverman, 1978;Stone, 1980;White & Rollins, 1981; for a review, see Petrak, 2002).…”

“…Such reactions have included blaming, doubting, resenting, distracting, overprotecting, controlling, patronizing, and withdrawing from victims; keeping the rapes a secret and encouraging the victims' secrecy, avoiding discussion about the rapes, losing trust in the victims, taking control from the victims for reporting the rapes, rallying support without permission, treating the victims as fragile, feeling neglected by the victims, becoming impatient with the victims' slow recovery, feeling confused regarding how to help, and minimizing the victims' reactions to the rapes; and developing tension in the relationship with the victims, problems communicating with the victims, sexual problems, problems in commitment to and support of the victims, and problems expressing affection to the victims (Burge, 1983;Emm & McKenry, 1988;Feinauer, 1982;Feinauer & Hoppolite, 1987;Figley, 1983;Holmstrom & Burgess, 1979;Miller et al, 1982;Mitchell, 1991;Remer & Elliot, 1988;Riggs & Kilpatrick, 1997;Rodkin et al, 1982;Silverman, 1978;Stone, 1980;White & Rollins, 1981).…”

Becoming a Secondary Survivor of Sexual Assault

“…In an extensive review of the literature pertaining to the significant others of trauma victims (particularly sexual assault victims) up to 1990, only 20 sources (Bass & Davis, 1988;Brittain & Merriam, 1988;Burge, 1983;Burgess & Holstrom, 1979a, 1979bCohen, 1988;Crenshaw, 1978;Downing, 1988;Feinauer, 1982;Figley 1985aFigley , 1985bHerdon & Law, 1985;Holstrom & Burgess, 1979;Miller, Williams, & Berstein, 1982;Orzek, 1983;Remer & Elliott, 1988a, 1988bRodkin, Hunt ,& Cowan, 1982;Silverman, 1978;Solomon, 1985;Sutherland & Sherl, 1970;White & Rollins, 1981) were found dealing directly with the reactions, problems, and approaches to aiding significant others-secondary victims. Although in these articles the impact of secondary victimization was first recognized, most of them are focused only tangentially on this social support network.…”

The effects of rape upon victims and families: Implications for a comprehensive family therapy

“…By emphasizing the shared aspect of the trauma, the therapist is suggesting to the husband that he is his wife's primary source of emotional support and that there is a common goal to overcome. Silverman's observations have been corroborated by others (e.g., Earl, 1985;Rodkin, 1982). For example, Rodkin identified two phases through which men pass after the rape of their respective partners.…”