There are many myths about rape. Perhaps the most common myth is that women are raped by strangers. Only about 20% to 25% of women are raped by someone they do not know. Most women are raped by a relative or acquaintance (9% by husbands or ex-husbands, 11% by fathers or stepfathers, 10% by boyfriends or ex-boyfriends, 16% by other relatives, and 29% by other nonrelatives) (132). Acquaintance rape may seem to be less traumatic than stranger rape, but survivors of acquaintance rape often take longer to recover. Another common misconception about rape is that most survivors sustain serious physical or life-threatening injury. Sixty percent of rape survivors report some physical injury. General body injury is more than twice as common as genital and anal injury (141). Serious injury is rare, occurring 4% of the time, although almost half of the rape survivors report being fearful of serious injury or death during the assault (132). The most common genital injuries from a sexual assault are vaginal lacerations resulting in bleeding and pain. Intraperitoneal extension of a vaginal laceration or damage to the anal mucosa is rare (142). Common nongenital injuries in survivors include cuts, bruises, scratches, broken bones and teeth, and knife or gunshot wounds (143). About 0.1% of sexual assaults result in death. Common causes of death during a sexual assault include mechanical asphyxiation, trauma, lacerations, drowning, and gunshot wounds (142).
There are at least four types of rapists (144): 1.
Opportunist rapists (30%) exhibit no anger toward the women they assault and usually use little or no force. These rapes are impulsive and may occur in the context of an existing relationship (date or acquaintance rape). The highest incidence of acquaintance rape is among women in the 12th grade of high school or in the first year of college (145). Approximately one half of female college students report that they were date raped. Many of these women may have been unable to give consent because they were impaired by alcohol or so-called date rape drugs (Rohypnol or other benzodiazepines, ketamine, or gamma-hydroxy butyrate [GHB]). Date rape may have even greater psychological consequences than rape by a stranger because it involves a violation of trust (142).
2.
Anger rapists (40%) usually batter the survivor and use more physical force than is necessary to overpower her. This type of sexual assault is episodic, impulsive, and spontaneous. An anger rapist often physically assaults his victim, sexually assaults her, and forces her to perform degrading acts. The rapist is angry or depressed and is often seeking retribution—for perceived wrongs or injustices he imagines were done to him by others, especially women. He may victimize the very young or the very old.
3.
Power rapists (25%) do not intend to physically harm their victim but rather to possess or control her to gain sexual gratification. A power rapist may use force or the threat of force to overcome his victim. These assaults are premeditated and repetitive, and they may increase in aggression over time. The rapist is usually anxious and may give orders to his victim, ask her personal questions, or inquire about her response during the assault. This assault may occur over an extended period while the victim is held captive. These rapists are insecure about their virility and are trying to compensate for their feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.
4.
Sadistic rapists (5%) become sexually excited by inﬂicting pain on their victim.