The Serial Rapist

A serial rapist is a person who forces a series of victims into unwanted sexual activity. Similar to a serial killer, the rapist will have a cooling off period in between crimes.

Methods of Approach

The con

The criminal will approach the victim posing as an authority figure; a police officer for example. The con approach involves subterfuge and is predicated on the rapist's ability to interact with women. With this technique, the rapist openly approaches the victim and requests or offers some type of assistance or direction. However, once the victim is within his control, the offender may suddenly become more aggressive.

The blitz

In a blitz approach, the rapist uses a direct, injurious physical assault which subdues and physically injures the victim. The attacker may also use chemicals or gases but most frequently makes use of his ability to physically overpower a woman. Interestingly, despite its simplicity, this approach was used in 23% of the first rapes, 20% of the middle rapes, and 17% of the last rapes. Even though it is used less often than the con approach, the blitz approach results in more extensive physical injury and inhibits certain fantasy components of the rape that may be arousing to the rapist.

The surprise

The surprise approach, which involves the assailant waiting for the victim or approaching her after she is sleeping, presupposes that the rapist has targeted or preselected his victim through unobserved contact and knowledge of when the victim would be alone. Threats and/or the presence of a weapon are often associated with this type of approach; however, there is no actual injurious force applied. They usually stalk their victims for a time first.

Notes

• It is estimated that 34% of all serial rapists have some form of sexual dysfunction.
• The majority of the rapes were premeditated
• The con approach was used most often in initiating contact
• A threatening presence and verbal threats were used to maintain control
• Minimal or no force was used in the majority of instances
• The most common offender reaction to resistance was verbal threats
• Low levels of pleasure were reported by the rapist
• The rapists tended not to be concerned with precautionary measures to protect their identities
• Approximately one-third of the rapists had consumed alcohol prior to the crime and slightly less reported using some other drug.
  

Remember: Always Safe is never sorry.



-Birdy