Psychology Assignment 2022

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

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Introduction
Sexual assault is defined as any undesirable sexual actions, which make an individual
feel scared, uncomfortable or threatened. Sexual assault covers three major range of
unwanted sexual action namely rape, indecent assault and child sexual exploitation (SBS
News, 2019). Sexual assault is not always concerned with the offenders, who try to
physically impose themselves on the victim for sexual pleasure and engage in a forced sexual
act instead, it is also sometimes related to the people who enjoy the controlling and asserting
power over the other person. This study will focus on the female victim of sexual assault
offenses and, According to The National Centre for Victims of Crime (NCVC), sexual assault
is defined as the sexual action that includes different forms of act like attempted rape or rape
and unwanted sexual threats without seeking any consent form the victim (National Sexual
Violence Resource Centre, 2019). According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS),
4% of men and 17% of women face the condition of sexual assault from the age 15 and
above. Hence, this study will focus on the pattern of victimization, effect of sexual assault on
the victim, the rights that can be claimed by the victim, the possible barriers faced by the
victim in achieving justice and resolution and the support services that are available for the
victim to in order to help the victim suffering from the trauma of sexual assault (Casa.org.au,
2019).
Pattern of Victimisation
In order to study the detail pattern of victimisation, the complete knowledge and study
of victimology takes place. Victimology is defined as the study of law-breaking or crime
victims and other associated factor that increases the susceptibility towards victimisation. The
police officers are usually responsible for studying the pattern of victimisation as they will be
investigating the case and the studying the complete scenario of sexual assault that happens

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with large population of women. Large number of women are filling case or reporting against
sexual assault that happened with them and based on the survey the record of sexual assault is
increasing among the younger population of Australia, which have majorly contributed
towards rise in the cases of sexual assault. From the time period of 1995 to 2005, the total
number of sexual assault cases for the children aged between 0-14 have increased to 40% of
the total filed cases, where the majority of victims are females (Australian Institute of
Criminology, 2019). The crucial evidence regarding the crime is derived and collected from
the complete study of victimisation trend and pattern, which are grounded on the data and
information collected from the victim rather than the in-charge police officer.
Large population-based victimisation surveys are conducted for understanding for
understanding the household and individual risk associated with different forms of crime. The
complete analysis of victimisation pattern includes evaluating the relationship among the
individual, community and family members concerning the forceful crime victimisation or
property risk (Cortoni, Babchishin and Rat 2017). The pattern of victimisation is largely
based on the crime survey data that is often studied and validated from the past police records
and the national reporting system, which are responsible for reporting the cases of sexual
assault that takes place within the female population and also include the possible factors that
might have triggered the situation of sexual assault.
The common sources of evidence regarding the victimization trends and patterns are
retained by the Bureau of Justice Statistics in the United States and the Home Office in Great
Britain. In United States (US), the Bureau of Justice Statistics website exhibit a page named
and titled as Criminal Victimization that is useful for providing recent and updated
descriptive information and evidence regarding victimization trends and patterns according to
the crime category and designated victim individualities derived from the National Crime
Victimization Survey data (Bjs.gov, 2019). Other relevant and associated data regarding the

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pattern of victimisation and the victims are derived from the homicide records, which consist
of other important evidence concerned with the issue. The yearly victimization reports
distributed by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (Criminal victimization in the United States—
statistical tables) are deliberated as the standard reference information for conducting the
research on US sexual assault trends.
Effect of the crime on the victim
Sexual assault is defined as any undesirable sexual actions, which make an individual
feel scared, uncomfortable or threatened. The female who were the victim of sexual assault
suffer from a wide-range of impact that affect their general well-being. The impact or effect
of sexual assault is not only limited to the emotional or psychological impact but also effect
the social, physical, financial and interpersonal domain of the victim. There are different set
of factors that must be noticed and identified before highlighting the impact of sexual assault
on the female population. The variety of factors that will influence the effect of sexual assault
are as follows (Thompson et al. 2019):
 The harshness of the assault
 The degree of physical injury or harm
 The relationship of the victim and the perpetrator
 The personal and individual history of the victim
 The response or reaction of the friends and family members
 The total time period for which the victim was physically abused
Based on the above mentioned factors, there are various effect of sexual assault on the
victim ranging from both short-term and long-term effects. The effect of the crime on the
victim are as follows (Tarzia et al. 2017):

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1. Emotional and psychological effect: Sexual assault has a major emotional and
psychological impact on the victim as the victim is in a state of shock and lack
efficient thinking ability to understand and take necessary step as sexual abuse or
assault is considered as the shameful deed within the society. The emotional and
psychological impact has immediate, short-term, medium and long-term effect on the
victim. The victim experience reactions like fear of dislocation and death that create a
major psychological impact in the victim. Other factors that resulted in emotional and
psychological effect includes intense fear and anxiety that is considered as the
primary reaction or response after the crime due to which the victim experience
flashback of the crime that affects their mental status badly. The victim ha a constant
fear of their future, where they are concerned if the society will accept them and how
their family members or closed ones will react (Gardner, Cui and Coiacetto 2017).
The victim lose their faith and trust from every individual and are under constant fear
of being unsafe. The constant experience of fear and acceptance generate suicidal
thoughts within few victims and they often tend to go in depression or from any
traumatic and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD).
2. Physical effect: Sexual assault is defined as the action of physically imposing
themselves on the victim for sexual pleasure and engage in a forced sexual act that
might result in variety of medical problems or physical injury. The complication or
physical impact might be due to immediate assault or might can also develop as the
later consequences or complications. The physical impact might include the damage
caused to the vagina, anus or urethra during the forced sexual act. Bulimia nervosa, an
eating disorder, might be developed in the victim associated with pelvic pain. The
major physical effect includes irritability and bowel syndrome. The risk of sexually
transmitted diseases increases such as HIV/AIDS associated with high chances of

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unwanted pregnancy that might lead to abortion and therefore have a bad effect on the
physical health of the victim (Muldoon, Taylor and Norma 2016).
3. Community and social effect: Sexual assault has the major effect on the social life of
the victim, as the community treats the women in a different way who are sexually
assaulted and does not accept or encourage them to lead their life normally. The
females who are sexually assaulted ignore or avoid any social interaction, as they are
scared of the capability of violence by other men who are capable to so. Women
develop the fear or horror of rape among themselves and are scared of every man they
see around themselves therefore, such women ignore any social gatherings. The
support of family members and friends also play a major role in recovering of the
victim, but there are various women who lack such support and hence develop
negative reaction towards their life and end up harming themselves physically (Tarzia
et al. 2018).
4. Financial effect: The impact of sexual assault is much more on the victim as
compared to the money but monetary support is required to help the victim in
recovering under the following conditions (Shahali et al. 2016):
 Intangible costs (including suffering and loss of healthy quality of life)
 Medical expenses
 Loss of authentic earnings
 Loss of imminent earning capacity
 Counselling expenses
Therefore, Sexual assault has an impact on the economic perspective of the victim and is
considered as the primary issues at a nation-wide level.
Victim Rights

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The women who suffers or face sexual assault are independent and responsible for
taking their decisions and deciding what they want to do in the future, if they would like to be
vocal about their condition and create awareness among the young generation so that the
other women are more secure and aware of such issues or they want to follow the jurisdiction
of Australia and maintain their privacy by not highlighting the case in the court. According to
“The National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling Line – 1800”, the
population of Australia can seek their help and assistance in case of any sexual assault case
and they also seek help or guidance form the counsellor, and take up their privacy rights of
not disclosing any private information to other people (Rightnow.org.au, 2019). The victim
can also use her communication as the evidence in the court under the Sexual assault
communications privilege published by the Australian State and Territory. The victim can
also avail the rights of Sexual assault counselling privilege that aims to motivate the victim to
seek effective counselling treatment by maintaining and protecting their confidentiality of
counselling sessions. Since 2006, the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) has
suggested that the sexual assault communications privilege should be introduced and
incorporated into the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) in order to safeguard the counselling
proceedings of the victims within the Commonwealth dominion (Racgp.org.au, 2019).
Barriers to achieving justice and possible resolutions
The lack of proper definition of sexual assault and rape is the primary barrier
considered for the women to achieve justice, as it becomes difficult for the victim to convince
and explain the judicial authorities that the sexual act was forced and non-consensual
(Hrw.org 2019). The lack of proper fund, victim safety and legal action is considered as the
second barrier as the survivors or victim has no funded shelter or accommodation as an
alternate option, if they are forced to leave their home and they can receive their treatment
and reside. The third and major barrier considered is social pressure, where the victim is

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pressurized to remain quiet and silent regarding the sexual assault that happened with them
and therefore lack the opportunity of speaking up regarding the sexual assault that happened
with them and achieve justice. The pressure from the family members is also considered as
the barrier where the victim is threatened to stay quiet and raise any issue that will hamper
the respect of the family (Holder 2018). The last barrier included is institutional barrier,
which comprise of police and judicial investigative ways, which are not considered as
gender-responsive, lack effective confidentiality and privacy, and therefore inhibit the victim
from obtaining justice. The case of victim’s receiving justice from the state jurisdiction is
very limited and requires the government to take some serious legal charges and actions the
assaulters so that large number of victim gain confidence and support from the government
and obtain justice (Wood, Rose and Thompson 2018).
Support services available to the victim
The total number of sexual assault cases are increasing in Australia day by day, hence
to help such victims the government of Australia is taking necessary steps and developing
different support services that will provide help and assistance to the victim. 1800 RESPECT
is developed within Australia for helping the victim of Sexual Assault, Domestic & Family
Violence and counselling them over the phone and also suggesting them with different
strategies that will help them to fell motivated and seek justice. Face-to-face or direct support
service is also present named as Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence National Help Line. If
nay women or adult is feeling unsafe they can seek help or assistance by calling 000, which a
24*7 available support service (Humanrights.gov.au, 2019).
Victim support service is also available that focuses on providing support and
assistance to the victim and help the victim to gather courage and motivate themselves to not
destroy their life or harm themselves. National Sexual Assault Hotline is also available for

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the victim that is operated and managed by RAINN, which aim to serve the victim of sexual
assault (Rainn.org, 2019). National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA), which is
considered as one of the oldest organisation world-wide that focus on promoting services and
rights of the victims and provide all the required assistance and help to them. The other
associated support services that are available for the victim to offer help and guidance are as
follows (Victimsupport.org.au, 2019):
 The National Centre for Victims of Crime
 National Street Harassment Hotline
 National Online Resource Centre on Violence Against Women
 National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Centre
 National Street Harassment Hotline
 Victim Connect
It is also very crucial for the victim to be aware of all the available service support as the
total number of sexual assault cases are increasing in Australia.
Conclusion
From the study it can be concluded the number of cases of sexual assault are
increasing in Australia with high number of cases reported by the women who have either
faced sexual assault or are the recent victim of the assault. The complete knowledge of sexual
assault was highlighted in this study that included the definition of sexual assault stating that
is defined as any undesirable sexual actions, which make an individual feel scared,
uncomfortable or threatened. Sexual assault covers three major range of unwanted sexual
action namely rape, indecent assault and child sexual exploitation. The pattern of
victimisation was explained that gathered information regarding victimology, which is
defined as the study of law-breaking or crime victims and other associated factor that

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increases the susceptibility towards victimisation. The effect of sexual assault on the victim
was also exhibited that included emotional and psychological effect, physical effect,
community and social effect and financial effect. The rights that can be claimed by the victim
was explained that included rights such as privacy rights that should be maintained and
followed by the GP, who will be responsible for counselling the victim. The barriers that will
not allow the victim to seek justice are explained like social barrier that do not allow the
victim to stand up for their rights and seek justice. The study concluded by highlighting the
support services that can be used by the victim to seek assistance and support from the
government.

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References
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