Supporting Survivors: A Compassionate Approach

Why might being the victim of sexual abuse increase the likelihood of being re-victimized? What warning signs, if any, might an abuser exhibit before becoming abusive? How might trauma differ when caused by someone the victim knows versus by someone who is a stranger to them? Why might victims choose to continue interacting with their abusers after receiving abuse? Why might trauma even cause a person to bond with their abuser? What is "affirmative" consent? Which states in the US recognize affirmative consent as a meaningful legal concept? What forms of refusal to engage in sexual activities are legally defensible? Why might victims choose to pursue legal recourse or not? What percent of victims pursue legal recourse? What sorts of things drive abusers to abuse others? Is it mere lust, or are there other factors? How often do abusers apologize or correct their behavior? How can you help a friend who has experienced sexual abuse?

Further reading

• "Why Some Sexual Assault Victims Are Revictimized", by Wendy L. Patrick | Psychology Today
• "Why Some Rape Victims Continue to Date Their Rapist", by Wendy L. Patrick | Psychology Today
• "I Kept Talking to My Rapists", by Jeannie Vanasco | The Atlantic
• "Why am I still attracted to someone who assaulted me?" | Columbia Health
• "Why I continued sleeping with my rapist", by Sian Ferguson | news.com.au
• "Are sexual abuse victims being diagnosed with a mental disorder they don't have?", by Alexandra Shimo | The Guardian
• "Briefing on ‘Personality Disorder’ and the labelling of survivors of abuse and violence", by Platfform
• "Female soldiers raped by colleagues were ‘misdiagnosed’ with personality disorder", by Danielle Sheridan | The Telegraph
• "Abuse Survivors Can Be Revictimized — Here’s What You Should Know", by Lori Lawrenz | Healthline
• "Sexual Revictimization", by National Sexual Violence Resource Center
• "I fell in love with my rapist. What should I do?" | Quora
• "Why do I still love him after he raped me?" | Quora
• "Why did I go back to my rapist and had sex with him? Was it because I was ashamed, or I wasn't thinking straight?" | Quora
• "I am in love with my rapist" by u/Throwaway97547997 | Reddit

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