Credibilidad de las víctimas en delitos de violencia sexual: revisión sistemática desde la psicología forense
Victim credibility in sexual violence crimes: A systematic review from a forensic psychology perspectiveBarra lateral del artículo
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La credibilidad de las víctimas en delitos de violencia sexual constituye un problema central en la evaluación judicial, especialmente cuando la declaración constituye la principal prueba disponible. El objetivo fue analizar la evidencia científica sobre los factores que inciden en la credibilidad atribuida a las víctimas de violencia sexual desde la psicología forense. Se realizó una revisión sistemática con síntesis narrativa siguiendo PRISMA 2020, con búsquedas en Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science y SciELO. Se incluyeron 60 estudios que abordaron modelos de evaluación testimonial, sesgos de género, mitos sobre violencia sexual, indicadores conductuales e implicaciones periciales. Los resultados muestran que la credibilidad es multidimensional, mediada por factores psicosociales, estereotipos de género y expectativas institucionales. Se concluye que la evaluación pericial debe ser multimétodo, técnicamente fundamentada y sensible al contexto, evitando intuiciones judiciales o estereotipos sobre la conducta esperada de las víctimas.
The credibility of survivors in sexual violence cases remains a pivotal challenge in judicial assessment, especially when testimony serves as the primary evidentiary basis. This systematic review analyzes the scientific evidence regarding factors that influence the credibility attributed to victims within forensic psychology frameworks. Adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a narrative synthesis was conducted across Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and SciELO, resulting in the inclusion of 60 studies. These articles evaluated testimonial assessment models, gender biases, rape myths, behavioral indicators, and their implications for expert testimony. Findings reveal that victim credibility is a multidimensional construct mediated by psychosocial factors, gender stereotypes, and institutional expectations. Ultimately, the study concludes that forensic evaluations must be multi-method, technically rigorous, and context-sensitive to transcend judicial intuitions or stereotypes regarding "expected" victim behavior, thereby ensuring the probative value of expert findings.
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