A Theoretical Analysis of Nonverbal Communication and Victim Selection for Sexual Assault

Abstract

Research has suggested that (a) victims of sexual assault evidence significant passive and submissive personality structures, (b) such submissive affective traits are characteristic of victims prior to their assaults, (c) sexual assault offenders look for visual cues of vulnerability when selecting a victim, (d) females high and low in submissiveness exhibit different clothing and body language behaviors, and (e) males form differing perceptions of females who are high versus low in submissive personality traits. Propositions associated with theories of self enhancement, communication, perception, and impression formation were united to form a more comprehensive theoretical perspective upon nonverbal communication. This perspective, when analyzed against the results of the abovementioned sexual assault research, provided a logical explanation of the victim selection process wherein nonverbal appearance cues (both body adornment and body language) play a paramount role.