(Psychological POV of Kolkata Rape Case)

                          By Shreya Sehgal

No one ever imagines that the dead of night, when they are lost in the depths of sleep, could be the moment their life would be stolen away. Right? Abhaya also slept for a short while thinking she will soon get up and continue her work. She got up only to be ripped off her dignity and put to silence forever.  

A 31-year-old female, filled with aspirations to make a difference in society, became the victim of a heinous crime that unfolded in the very institution where she studied and worked . The brutal rape and murder of a young, promising, and ambitious doctor within the premises of the RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata has sent shockwaves throughout the medical community and the whole country . The recent Kolkata rape case has left an indelible mark on our collective consciousness.  It's a gut-wrenching reminder of the deep-rooted issue that intertwines psychological, societal, and cultural factors—not just another statistic in the growing list of crimes against women, but a multifaceted issue. 

 Beyond the legal battles and media outrage, there lies an often overlooked but crucial dimension; the psychological impact. This blog sheds light on the motives of the perpetrator, the profound impact on the victim, and the ripple effect on society, and the nation’s healthcare systems.  

INDIGNIFIED DIGNITY 

Assaulted and barely clothed, her body was found at 9.30 a.m., and the principal of the institution was informed, however, no active action was taken.  At 4.40 p.m., a hurried inquest was conducted in the presence of two female doctors, as ordered by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sealdah court.  It revealed multiple injuries over the abdomen, left leg, right hand, lips, neck, and genital area and signs of strangulation. 

Later in the evening, between 6.10 - 7.10, an autopsy was conducted at the same institution under videography, and the victim’s body was taken hurriedly to the crematorium with a police force. It was cremated at the Panihati crematorium around midnight.  The body was not handed over to her parents at R. G. Kar 

  Little did she know, she would be attacked and brutally raped by a rapist. No girl would ever want that, we cannot comment her on the clothes she was wearing that were definitely a doctor's uniform. Imagining the pain she went through was unimaginable, everyone deserves safety at least in their own workplace.  The brutal killing of a young girl, taken to such horrific extremes, reflects an unimaginable level of inhumanity. The accused, Sanjay Roy, a repeat offender with a history of heinous crimes, stands as a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking in society. The devastation for the girl's parents is beyond comprehension—they could never have foreseen such a nightmare unfolding in their lives. This atrocity demands urgent attention to the systemic failures that allow such predators to roam freely.  After the interrogation of the girl’s body, it was found there was 150 mg of semen in her body .  

UNDERSTANDING THE CRIMINAL MINDSET 

Now, understanding the criminal mindset of the rapist he must be prone to all this due to the following reasons – 

Observational Learning- It is a possibility that he might have observed someone in his family behave disrespectfully towards girls. As we say, family is the root for every child to grow into a beautiful human being. However, if the family members have a history of attempting rape, eve teasing or sex offense, it is likely that the child might do the imitating behavior of the family members. 

Childhood trauma and abuse- Experiencing sexual, physical, or emotional abuse during childhood can significantly affect a person’s psychological development. Some offenders may be reenacting their trauma or attempting to gain a sense of power they lacked in the past. 

Lack of empathy and emotional regulation - A significant factor is an inability to empathize with the victim, coupled with poor emotional regulation. This lack of empathy makes it easier for the perpetrator to dehumanize their victim and justify their actions. After this incident, girls all across the country have begun to be more wary of their surroundings.

WHO IS ENDURING THE PAIN – PARENTS... 

The horror of one’s child being subjected to rape and later trauma is a situation that no parents would wish to be found in, and is a situation that shakes up their entire existence. In most cases, that of parents is often limiting to the negative angle of society that portrays the victim and the offender with a lot of emphasis however parents suffer as much and their emotional trauma should be equally looked up to. In cases of this nature such as that of Nirbhaya, the parents’ aftermath was a life filled with loss, hopelessness and an overwhelming yearning for retribution. Their story was one of grit and their faces became the epitome of the noisy disgust that the country demonstrated towards the violence against women. But behind the strength they portrayed in public, lay a deep unbearable grief. 

Such grieving parents are often consumed by excessive thoughts of guilt and self-blame and very often never learn to question their ability to keep their children safe. This is in addition to the censure by the various sectors of society in the case of the society outside the family even within the family structure these distancing tendencies exist. In traditional societies, families may be shunned, lynched, or even blamed for the questions of their rearing or the rearing of the victim.  

The mindset of sex offenders stems from a complex interplay of societal, familial, and neurological factors. In culturally conservative societies like India, the practice of strictly separating boys and girls during childhood fosters an unnatural curiosity about the opposite gender. By suppressing opportunities for healthy, natural interactions, this separation breeds misconceptions, mistrust, and a distorted understanding of relationships. 

ROLE OF SOCIETY AND PARENTS TOWARDS THE DELINQUENT BEHAVIOUR  

Parenting plays a pivotal role here. Early childhood attachment styles secure or insecure significantly influence how individuals regulate emotions and form relationships. Neglectful or inconsistent parenting can foster insecure attachment styles, leading to traits like poor impulse control, lack of empathy, or emotional instability, which are often linked to antisocial tendencies. Neurologically, dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex, which governs self-regulation, and the amygdala, which processes emotions, further exacerbates these behaviors. 

 Society’s insistence on segregating genders only deepens these issues. It prevents children from learning mutual respect, empathy, and healthy communication, reinforcing toxic dynamics between genders. To counter this, parents and educators must create environments that normalize respectful interactions from an early age. By fostering secure attachment, teaching emotional regulation, and encouraging healthy gender dynamics, society can work towards reducing such behaviour’s at their root.                                                 

FEMALE DOCTORS STATE OF MIND IN HOSPITALS 

 Secondary trauma is especially prevalent among female physicians because they cope even with the agony of victims. This is aggravated further when they are able to put themselves in the victims’ shoes or that of their loved ones. These emotions, especially when such workers are frequently exposed to the adverse effects of violence, may result in burnout, compassion fatigue, or even depression.  

The Nirbhaya incident brought this burden to the forefront. Medical caregivers who managed to save the girl were praised yet such professionals admitted having a hard time coping with their emotions after the incident. Many reported suffering from the case, and unable to understand why such a harsh injustice had happened, experienced rage and grief for the victim that exceeded their efforts in breaking the girl’s history. Most likely, in the Kolkata case, even the female doctors are faced with unresolved issues of the same nature: global caring for one’s professional responsibility and individual psychological health, without any adequate measures to help them. 

                                                                     Conclusion

 In conclusion, to address these challenges, society must foster empathy, dismantle stigma, and build robust support systems for everyone affected by sexual violence. By doing so, we can ensure that parents and medical professionals alike find the strength to heal and advocate for a safer world. The journey is long, but every step toward understanding and compassion brings us closer to breaking the cycle of violence and its aftermath 

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Shreya Sehgal is an intern at Inspired Living and has completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). An avid reader and writes blogs , she enjoys analyzing current events through a psychological lens and sharing her critical insights. All opinions expressed in her blogs are her own. For inquiries or doubts feel free to reach out to her at shreya.sehgal2002@gmail.com