Rape Trauma Syndrome, as defined by Burgess and Holmstrom, is a cluster of ❌ responses to the extreme stress experience by the survivor during the sexual assault.
More specifically, RTS is a response to the profound fear of _____________that almost all survivors experience during the assault.
Emotions
Death
Stress
Pregnancy
RTS occurs in two phases: ______________ phase and the _________________ phase.
Acute
Transitional
Reorganizational
Permanent
Crisis
All survivors will exhibit the same range of emotions in response to sexual violence.
The role of the advocate in providing crisis counseling is to analyze the feelings of the survivor, interpret what they need and make appropriate suggestions.
List the two emotional styles a survivor is likely to display?
Expressed
Artistic
Controlled
Independent
Social
What is the most common type of sexual assault?
Stranger rape
Acquaintance rape
Multiple Offenders
None of the above
Intimate partner violence
RVA Medical Advocates help survivors of sexual violence by taking over for the survivor, telling them what they need to do, making suggestions, making decisions for them so that they don't feel overwhelmed.
You can tell if a sexual assault actually occurred by the way the victim is acting.
Studies on the neurobiology of trauma tells us that there are three survival modes that a victim of trauma might experience. If a survivor is not drugged or unconscious, what are the three responses that their survival drive may have to the traumatic event?
Flight
Fight
Freeze
Fright
Frame
Flinch
During a sexual assault, what part of the brain is activated to release survival hormones?
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Prefrontal Cortex
Cerebellum
Hypothalamus
Anterior Cingulate Cortex
Name the four survival hormones released by the brain during a sexual assault.
Estrogen
Catecholamine
Cortisol
Calcitonin
Oxytocin
Testosterone
Progesterone
Opioids
The amount of each of the four survival hormones released during an attack will differ from person to person.
When the brain releases a high level of catecholamine (which primes the brain for a fight or flight response) and a low level of cortisol (which makes energy available), the victim is likely to experience what type of response?
freeze response or tonic immobility
fight response
flight response
laughing response
The absence of fighting back during an attack is a hormonally controlled trauma reaction.
Advocates are committed to providing ___________________ support.
non-judgmental
limitless
jugdmental
sympathetic
By providing non-judgmental support and offering options, advocates _________________ survivors of sexual violence.
empower
fix
shame
teach
counsel
Listening is an important part of crisis intervention. What do you do when a survivor does not want to talk about what happened to them?
Let the survivor know that they can tell you as little as much as they are comfortable with and you're happy to remain present with them.
Rephrase your question and let the survivor it is important that you know the answers in order to assist them.
Let them know that it will be hard for people to believe them if they don't have a consistent narrative.
Tell them that if they don't want to talk that you are willing to leave.
Validating is an important part of crisis intervention. If a survivor tells you that they are stupid for agreeing to go on a date with the assailant after their friend had warned them about his "shady behavior." How do you respond?
Tell them that you don't think they are stupid. Tell them everything happens for a reason and that reason will reveal itself in time.
Tell them that you don't think they are stupid. Tell them that they are only human and everyone makes mistakes.
Tell them that you don't think they are stupid. They agreed to go on a date and violence should not have been the result of that.
Tell them that you don't think they are stupid but maybe they shouldn't tell their friend about happened.
Normalizing is an important part of crisis intervention. A survivor tells you that they feel more angry at their partner for blaming them for the assault than they feel toward the assailant. How do you respond?
Tell them that the anger they are feeling is valid and normal. It is okay for them to feel this way.
Tell them that it is normal for their partner to blame them for the assault and at least they have a partner to help them during this time.
Tell them that their partner didn't mean to hurt them and things will go back to normal soon.
Tell them that it is normal for people to blame survivors and that they shouldn't stress so much about it.
Tell them that it is normal to feel angry but that they will have to let go of that anger if they ever want to heal from this.
What are three statements you should always feel comfortable communicating to a survivor?
I believe you.
At least something worst didn't happen.
It is not your fault.
You have options.
You should tell law enforcement.
Don't you think you have a responsibility to keep other people safe?
I promise you will get through this and it will be fine soon.
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