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Karen S. Calhoun
Professor of Psychology
William
A. Owens Award 2002
Creative Research
Medal 2001
Karen S. Calhoun, Professor of Psychology,
is considered one of the world’s experts in the field of
sexual violence. Her groundbreaking research is significant for
defining the scope and
consequences of sexual assault, as well as its treatment and prevention.
Sexual
aggression is surprisingly common in the United States, with
estimates indicating one in eight adult women has been raped.
Not only do these victims face psychological problems, they also
encounter economic consequences, physical health problems, and
high rates of substance abuse and suicide. The costs of sexual
violence are overwhelmingly high for the victims and society
as a whole. Dr. Calhoun seeks to develop a deeper understanding
of
sexual violence by deciphering both its causes and consequences.
She has been one of only a handful of researchers to focus
on both the victim and the perpetrator. Her early work established
that
rape victims are often subjected to post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) and that PTSD arising from sexual assault is second
only
to that from military combat.
Through her pioneering research,
Dr. Calhoun has discovered that, for still unknown reasons, initial
sexual victimization drastically
increases the risk for further victimization. She continues to
shed light on this puzzle by identifying attention and memory
deficits following sexual assault. Additionally, she studies perpetrator
behavior, which also contributes to understanding prevention.
As
a result, she and her colleagues have developed a preventive
intervention program that shows promise in reducing sexual assault
rates.
Recognized
as a leading theoretician and researcher on sexual violence, Dr.
Calhoun has received funding from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, the National Institute of Justice, and the National
Institute of Mental Health for her innovative studies. Her work
is published in the field’s top journals, some of which have
a 90 percent rejection rate.
Source: 23rd Annual Research Awards
Program (2002)
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