Impact of Rape and Relevance of Psychological Intervention on Rape Victims

Abstract

The crimes committed against the individuals has many adverse effects on the victim as well as the family and society of the victim.  Among such crimes, there is a crime that completely hampers the society, family and most severely, the victim. Among other crimes, the crime that completely shatters the life of the victim is crime of sexual assault including sexual abuse and rape. Rape is a crime that injures both the body of the victim and psychology of the victim. The adverse impact of such crimes is not over on completion of the crime, rather they hurt and harm the victim throughout the life and in every aspect of life. It is never easier for the victim of rape to live the same life as was prior to the commission of the crime. As compared to the traditional society, the present society is considered as more advanced society where women are treated at par with male counterpart and all the religious and moral texts obligates to respect women, yet the crimes of sexual assaults are committed specifically against women due to her gender. Still in some society the victim of rape is seen and treated as an accomplice to the crime which further victimises the victim. In India there were 4,48,211 registered crimes against the females in 2023 as compared to 4,45,256 in 2022 (Service, 2025). In 2023 there were 29,909 victims of rape and in 2022, 31,982 victims. Out of all victims of rape in 2023, 852 victims were under 18 years, 18 under six, 87 between six and twelve, 284 between twelve and sixteen, and 463 between sixteen and eighteen years (Pandit, 2025). Many studies have revealed that in maximum number of cases the offender committing crime is relative or close friend and unfortunately in some cases father or stepfather of the victim (Saraswathi Karelal et al., 2024, Kumar Meena et al., 2020). From victim’s point, punishment of the culprit is an important aspect of justice, but it is not complete justice for the victim. As the offence of sexual assault has various aftermath consequences like depression, emotional disorder, anxiety, mood swings and other psychological related traumatic effects, the psychological rehabilitation of the victims becomes an urgent requirement. There are various psychological methods which can reduce the trauma of the survivors and enable her to lead a normal life. Unfortunately, in India the help of various psychological methods is sought less particularly due to lack of awareness among the victim, family members and society about the therapies and also due to less availability of qualified psychologist and psychiatrists at ground level. The paper will examine the adverse effect of rape on the psychology of the victims along with the requirement and relevance of psychological interventions on her.