Open AccessPsycho-legal challenges facing the mentally retarded rape victim
Author(s) -
F. J. Calitz
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
south african journal of psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2078-6786
pISSN - 1608-9685
DOI - 10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v17i3.280
Subject(s) - psychology , mental health , sexual abuse , psychiatry , population , face (sociological concept) , cognition , position (finance) , clinical psychology , medicine , poison control , suicide prevention , medical emergency , sociology , social science , environmental health , finance , economics
Persons with mental retardation face multiple emotional, cognitive and social challenges. Mental health professionals increasingly agree that individuals with mental disabilities are more vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation than the general population. They are in particularly exposed to peril due to their often life-long dependence on caregivers, relatively powerless position in society, emotional and social insecurities, and lack of education regarding sexuality and sexual abuse. Shortcomings and discrepancies in the medical and legal definition of mental retardation, making the position of such individuals even more difficult, are discussed in this paper