Paper Title
Hidden, Unacknowledged, Acquaintance, and Date Rape: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Keywords
- Hidden Rape Victim
- Acquaintance Rape
- Date Rape
- Stranger Rape
- Sexual Experiences Collaboration (SEC)
- Victim Experience
- Attitudinal Characteristics
- Situational Characteristics
- Psychology of Women Quarterly (PWQ)
- Research Academic Career
- Sexual Violence
- Policy Change
- Law Treatment
- Prevention Strategies
- Clinical Psychology
- Victim Support
Journal
Research Impact Tools
Publication Info
Volume: 35 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 348-354
Published On
June, 2011
Downloads
FULL PDF
Abstract
In this commentary, I have been asked to reflect on two articles that have been among the most highly cited publications in Psychology of Women Quarterly (PWQ) over its first 35 years, “The Hidden Rape Victim: Personality, Attitudinal, and Situational Characteristics” (Koss, 1985) and “Stranger and Acquaintance Rape: Are There Differences in the Victim’s Experience?” (Koss, Dinero, Seibel, & Cox, 1988; please find the original articles at http://pwq.sagepub.com/content/12/1/1 and http://pwq.sagepub.com/content/9/2/193). Looking back, I have made decisions that were motivated both by unselfish and selfish motives. In terms of the former, initially I had not been drawn to academia; instead I sought a practice job where I could help people. My mentor, however, was insistent that I would help more people through scholarship than using other facets of clinical psychology. Thus, I embarked on a research academic career with the naive belief that changes in attitudes, policy, law, treatment, and prevention were simply awaiting the right data. I was concerned about getting published and assumed the rest of the “help people” equation automatically followed. Among my more selfish motives were the desire for professional legitimacy and personal affirmation. Learning that these two articles had been influential was deeply satisfying but that recognition was not achieved alone. The page limit of this commentary would be exhausted by acknowledging everyone who helped, and undoubtedly more people would be offended by omission than would feel honored by mention. To the Sexual Experiences Collaboration, other colleagues, those who have worked on projects, and the participants who gave their time to help others, please know that part of your life became part of mine and part of my impact is yours.
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