Behind the Torment of Rape Victims Lies a Dark Fear: Reply to the Commentaries

Abstract

The historic and continuing preoccupation with the issue of false rape allegations is embedded in a profound fear of the vulnerability that rape victims represent. That fear leads to an intense need to shun the victim, a shunning that is accomplished most effectively by disbelieving that a rape ever occurred. Ironically, the preoccupation with false rape allegations increases our collective vulnerability. It serves to further undermine the criminal justice response to rape, thereby permitting serial rapists—who commit the vast majority of rapes—to continue preying on the vulnerable.