Volume 7, Number 2/3

Overcoming Stigma-Threat Motivated Non-Disclosure of Rape Victims Through
Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (Rebt)

  Authors

¹Idoko Boniface Idoko, ²Igbo Happiness, ³Yakubu Meremu,
¹Emmanuel Secondary School Ugbokolo, Benue State Nigeria, ²Benue State University Makurdi, ³UBE Girls’ Juniour Secondary School, Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria

  Abstract

The scourge of rape in our contemporary society seems to have a smooth sail on the opportunity of nondisclosure of rape cases by the victims due to stigma threat. Rape is an act of forcefully having sex with someone against the will of such a person. This cannot be encouraged in any civil society. The social stigma associated with rape across the globe forces the victims to conceal rape assaults in order to save themselves from shame and public embarrassment. . Counseling as a helping profession is capable of helping rape victims who suffer in silence due to stigma threat to manage and overcome such difficulties through behaviour modification techniques. This paper advocates the use of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), to eliminate stigma threat nondisclosure. It recommends that Counselors should help rape victims to embrace life more positively through REBT and other behaviour modification therapies. Counsellors through individual and group counselling should employ the use of REBT to discard the irrational thoughts that promotes stigma threats that motivate nondisclosure in the victims

  Keywords

Rape, Stigma, Threat, Nondisclosure, Victims, Counseling, Counselors, Rational, Irrational, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)