1. Application of Affect-Control
Theory in Victims of Sexual
Assault
Alicia Kate Clayton
Trent University
XXXII. International Post Graduate Course on Victimology, Victim
Assistance and Criminal Justice

2. This Presentation:
• The Scenario
• What is a role?
• What is affect control theory?
• How does affect control theory relate to victims of sexual assault?

3. The Scenario
• An individual has recently been a victim of a sexual assault.
• After the sexual assault, the victim has voluntary sexual experiences
• This is important because a symptom of sexual assault is sexual
avoidance/dysfunction.(1)
• if a victim continues to be sexually active after a sexual assault, they may be
seen as having a lack of victim symptomology
1. Elliot D. M., Mok D. S., Briere, J. (2004). Adult sexual assault: Prevalence, symptomology, and sex differences in the general population. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 17(3); 203-211.

4. What is a role?
• “I am…”
• Skills
• Relationships
• Sum of Roles = IDENTITY
• Roles are dependent on the situation you are in
Summary
 Σ(𝑟𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠) = 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦

5. What is Affect Control Theory?
• People act in ways that correlates with their identity (incorporates beliefs)
• When someone acts in a way that conflicts with their identity they
must:
• A) change their behaviour
• B) change their role
For example: a vegetarian eats a hamburger
• Change their behaviour
• Change their role
- Stop eating meat
- Stop being a vegetarian
Summary
Σ 𝑟𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 = 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦
 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦 ∽ 𝑏𝑒ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑟
 𝑏𝑒ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑟 ∽ 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦

6. Applying Affect Control Theory
Scenario: After the sexual assault, the victim has voluntary sexual
experiences
Remember, ACT gives 2 options: change identity or change behaviour
• Identity: acceptance/acknowledgement of what has happened
• “I have undergone a sexual assault, I must take measures to deal with this
event.”
• BUT: If refusal to change identity, then must change behaviour, which may
lead to self-blame
• Behaviour: to remove dissonance, the individual may seek out sexual
activity/take sexual risks
• I am NOT a victim, I was NOT used against my will, so I will
continue to have sexual experiences
Summary
Σ 𝑟𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 = 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦
 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦 ∽ 𝑏𝑒ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑟
 𝑏𝑒ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑟 ∽ 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦

7. Thank you