Because this crime is underreported, knowing the potential indicators of sexual violence can assist you in identifying victimization even when victims are reluctant to disclose. This knowledge can be particularly important if you work with persons with cognitive and communication disabilities who may have limited ability to understand or disclose their victimization.
Unless excessive physical force is used, most victims will not have visible physical injuries from the sexual assault. Coercion, intimidation and the threat of force can all be contributing factors as to why excessive force is not used in many assaults. The absence of physical evidence in no way correlates with the level of fear that victims may have experienced during the assault.
Physical indicators: The most common physical signs of a sexual assault include bruising (on the inner thighs or on the arms where the offender restrained the victim) and trauma to the genital area. Some physical signs are obvious, such as bleeding, and might require medical attention. Other physical indicators, such as pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection, may be detected days or even weeks after the assault.
Behavioral indicators—examples include:
- Self-harming behaviors: Increased drug and alcohol use, self-mutilation, and suicide attempt.
- Changes in social interactions/ behaviors: Withdrawal; sexual promiscuity; dressing provocatively; wearing many layers of clothing; running away; aggressive or disruptive behavior; regressive behavior; sexually inappropriate behavior; excessive attachment; and avoidance of certain individuals.
- Individual behavioral changes: Sleep disturbances/insomnia; excessive sleeping; change in eating patterns (bulimia, anorexia, weight gain); bed wetting; incontinence; aversion to touch; frequent bathing; avoidance of previously favorite places; compulsive masturbation; isolation; sudden unwillingness to undress or shower in front of a trusted person; and unexplained sexual knowledge inappropriate for developmental age.
Emotional indictors: Emotional trauma caused by sexual violence can manifest itself in numerous ways such as: depression; spontaneous crying; feelings of despair and hopelessness; anxiety and panic attacks; fearfulness; compulsive and obsessive behaviors; feelings of being out of control, irritable, angry and resentful; and emotional numbness. A specific type of emotional trauma, rape crisis syndrome, has been identified as a form of post-traumatic stress disorder specific to sexual violence victims.
Each person reacts differently to emotional trauma. It is critical that a service provider not judge a victim based on her response to the violence (e.g., do not assume she is unaffected by the assault if she is calm and seems in control of her emotions).
For more information on above topics, see B2. Indicators of Sexual Violence and B8. Understanding and Addressing Emotional Trauma in the WV S.A.F.E. Training and Collaboration Toolkit—Serving Sexual Violence Victims with Disabilities.