A Multidimensional Framework of Rapists: Implications for Victim Counselling

Abstract

Clinical approaches which allocate people to specific clinical categories do disservice to rape victims. A “one size fits all” treatment approach is not suitable, as it may ask the psychologically impossible of many victims (Hanks, 1992). Given that therapists too are influenced by rape myths, it is important to have an empirical basis to our interventions. Taylor (1993) integrated sociological and psychological typologies of rapists (for which there is some empirical evidence) into a multidimensional framework with implications for differential assessment and counselling for victims. Therapists need to recognize the complexity of issues before they can formulate a coherent strategy for counselling rape victims more effectively. In this paper we highlight some of the key issues that need addressing.