Intra-familial rape – characteristics of the phenomenon = Zgwałcenie w rodzinie – charakterystyka zjawiska

Abstract

The main aim of the study was an attempt to develop and present characteristics of rapes that occurred in the family, with consideration of the modus operandi of the perpetrators according to the degree of kinship, their motivational background, the circumstances under which the acts were committed, and the psychosocial profile of the perpetrator and the victim. Moreover, an attempt was made to isolate the risk factors for intra-familial rapes, with the possibility of using them in preventive measures. The study was conducted based on empirical material from court cases in which the perpetrators of rapes were related to the victims. The research material consisted of files of criminal cases completed with a final judgment in 2015-2020. At the request of the researcher, criminal cases meeting the accepted criteria, where the male or female perpetrator of rape was a person related to the victim or a partner, were made available from the criminal departments of the courts. In the study presented here, a total of 46 intra-familial rape cases were analysed, of which 38 involve incestuous rape and 8 involve partner rape. Regardless of the type of abuse and kinship, the perpetrators were characterized by a fairly low psychosocial status (low level of education, low occupational status), addiction or alcohol abuse, personality disorders, problems with higher emotionality. Most of the acts against minors were of a substitutionary nature, the perpetrators did not show sexual preference disorders in the form of paedophilia. Alcohol abuse and personality disorders are risk factors irrespective of the cases. Impulse and emotional control deficits, deficits in understanding emotions and feelings, low self-esteem and lack of established normal male role models. A risk factor is the perpetrators’ limited intellect and associated impaired social functioning: reduced critical thinking, lack of internalised social norms, elevated levels of sexual drive and limitations in the areas of impulse control and deferring gratification.