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Mary P. Koss

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Clinical psychologist, professor
Mary Koss
BornMary Lyndon Pease
Louisville, Kentucky
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota-Twin Cities
SpousePaul G. Koss
Awards2010 Visionary Award from End Violence Against Women International
Scientific career
FieldsGender-based violence and restorative justice
InstitutionsUniversity of Arizona

'Mary P. Koss is an American Regents' Professor at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. She is a renowned expert in sexual violence research. She is best known for conducting the first national study on rape in the United States in 1987 and for developing the Sexual Experience Survey (SES), which remains widely used today to assess sexual aggression and victimization.

In 1987, Koss, along with her colleagues, Christine Gidycz and Nadine Wisniewski, published the first national study on rape. The study included the first presentation of the "one in four" statistic that created awareness of the extent of rape among college students, the development of a method for measuring rape, and coining terms such as "date rape" and "acquaintance rape".

Biography

Koss was born in Louisville, Kentucky. Koss's maternal grandparents (William and Marian Lyndon Bade) raised her and her four siblings for a period of time, while their mother rehabilitated from polio. Upon graduating high school at age 17, Koss attended the University of Michigan, where she met her husband, Paul G. Koss. After receiving her A.B. in Psychology with high distinction, she continued her education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities along with her husband. While he completed his medical degree, she pursued a PhD in Clinical Psychology. After receiving her doctorate, she completed her clinical psychology residency at the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center, where she worked with Vietnam War veterans in the area of rehabilitation psychology.

Career

1991 letter addressed to Mary Koss by Joe Biden, then Chairman of the Senate's Committee on the Judiciary

Koss joined the faculty of St. Olaf College as an assistant professor in August 1973. She then transferred to a research university, Kent State in 1976. During her time there, Mary Harvey, of Victims of Violence Center and National Institute of Mental Health, recruited her to lead a study on rape prevalence in collaboration with the Ms. Foundation for Research and Education. The project was federally funded through a competitive grants award process. Koss' work resulted in the 1987 publication, "The Scope of Rape: Incidence and Prevalence of Sexual Aggression and Victimization in a National Sample of Higher Education Students." This was the first national, large-scale survey on rape of its kind. As a result of this and other works, Koss has been credited with coining the terms "date rape", "hidden rape", "unacknowledged rape", "acquaintance rape", and "campus rape". She also published "The Hidden Rape Victim: Personality, Attitudinal and Situational Characteristics." In that paper, she defined the hidden rape victim as, "one who has never reported her experience to a rape crisis center or to police."

Koss defined the unacknowledged rape victims as women who have experienced the behaviors that define rape (oral, anal, or vaginal penetration against consent through force, bodily harm, or when incapacitated and unable to consent) but do not realize that their experience constitutes rape or chose not to view it that way. This is now a well-accepted finding reaffirmed by other investigators in national surveys repeated in the early 2000s and most recently reported in 2012. Koss has served as an invited speaker and guest lecturer around the world. In 1991, she testified as an expert witness at the U.S. Senate hearings that led to the first passage of Violence Against Women Act. Koss has since conducted multiple legislative testimonies, including expert witness testimonies to the U.S. Senate Veteran's Affairs Committee, U.S. News & World Report, Senator Cory Brooker on restorative justice, and US Advisory Commission on Child Abuse. Other legal testimony from Koss includes working with Congressional Briefing on Violence Against Women, and the Legislative Policy Brief released by the Evelyn Jacobs Ortner Center on Family Violence.

On the issue of male victims of rape, Koss has written: "Although consideration of male victims is within the scope of the legal statutes, it is important to restrict the term rape to instances where male victims were penetrated by offenders. It is inappropriate to consider as a rape victim a man who engages in unwanted sexual intercourse with a woman." (Koss 1993 pp 206–207). Elsewhere, she has argued that it is impossible for a woman to rape a man: "How would happen… how would that happen by force or threat of force or when the victim is unable to consent? How does that happen?", adding that she would describe this as "unwanted contact".

Koss was offered a faculty position in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona in 1987 and later transferred to the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health in the Division of Health Promotion Sciences. Koss has been at the University of Arizona for 27 years, earning tenure in 1988 and designation Regents' Professor in November 2006.

In her academic career, Koss has published close to 300 works on violence against women, including 145 peer-reviewed scientific articles as well as books, book chapters, and briefs. Her work has been cited over 41,000 times. In addition to the Ms. Study, Koss has led 10 other federally funded research projects. Koss is globally recognized and has been invited as a panelist and speaker to multiple conferences held by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Coalition for Women's Mental Health, the National Institute of Justice, and others. She has also been a consultant and reviewer for organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, World Bank, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Department of Justice, the World Health Organization, and others. Koss is a Life Member of the American Psychological Association since 1976.

Observations on Her Career

Numerous scholars and professionals have commented on the lasting impact of Dr. Koss’s work. Issacs (2020), in Psychology’s Feminist Voices, recognized her contributions to feminist psychology, noting her pioneering research on sexual violence and its long-term societal impacts【Issacs, 2020】. Rutherford (2011, 2017) has extensively examined the historical and social significance of Dr. Koss’s research. In a 2017 article, Rutherford discussed the ontological politics of sexual assault and how Koss’s feminist social science shaped modern discourse on rape and gender-based violence【Rutherford, 2017].Dzur (2020) praised Dr. Koss’s groundbreaking work in restorative justice, particularly her focus on addressing the needs of both survivors and perpetrators in a more victim-centered process. In a detailed interview, Dzur highlighted how Dr. Koss has influenced the conversation about alternatives to traditional punitive systems of justice【Dzur, 2020】.

2024 Revision of the Sexual Experience Survey

In 2024, Dr. Koss led a significant revision of the Sexual Experiences Survey (SES), which was published in a special issue of The Journal of Sex Research. This updated version reflects changes in the understanding of sexual violence over the past several decades and addresses the limitations of the original SES, aiming to provide a more inclusive and scientifically rigorous tool. 

1. Introduction to the Revised SES

The revised SES incorporates expanded definitions of sexual misconduct, coercion, incapacitation, and consent, making it more reflective of modern understandings of sexual violence. It also emphasizes inclusivity, ensuring it can be effectively used across diverse populations, including LGBTQ+ individuals (Koss et al., 2024). 

2. SES and Illegal Acts

The revised SES clarifies how illegal acts of sexual violence are captured within the survey. This updated framework aligns the instrument with legal standards to improve its application in research and policymaking (Koss et al., 2024). 

3. Psychometric Properties of the Revised SES

The psychometric properties of the revised SES were rigorously evaluated, and it was found to be highly reliable and valid for use across different demographic groups, reinforcing its continued relevance in sexual violence research (Koss et al., 2024).

Restorative justice programs

At the University of Arizona, Koss pioneered a restorative justice program, RESTORE. RESTORE is a voluntary conferencing program for adult misdemeanor and felony sexual assault perpetrators who are referred by a prosecutor. "The RESTORE Program for Restorative Justice for Sex Crimes: Vision, Process and Outcomes" is published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence. "The paper is the first peer-reviewed quantitative evaluation of RJ conferencing for adult sexual assault." Koss and her colleagues from The University of Michigan and Carleton College also collaborated on the article titled, "Campus Sexual Misconduct: Restorative Justice Approaches to Enhance Compliance with Title IX Guidance." This article is published in Trauma, Violence and Abuse: A Review Journal.

Honors and awards

Koss has received over 20 awards and over 70 recognitions throughout her career. Along with her honors and awards, she has been a distinguished member of professional organizations such as the American Psychological Association. Koss also was the first recipient and namesake of the Mary P. Koss Profile in Courage Award from the One-in-Four Organization. This award will be given to another person annually. Her work has also influenced public policy, including her testimony during the drafting of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994, which has become a cornerstone of federal policy on gender-based violence.

  • American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Contributions to Research in Public Policy
  • Award for Distinguished Contributions to the International Advancement of Psychology
  • 2022 Trailblazer Award: Celebrating the architects of our field on whose shoulders we stand, from the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (WHO-founded, based at the Medical Research Council, Johannesburg, South Africa)
  • 2025 Kinsey Institute Award from Indiana University
  • Stephen Schafer Award, National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA)
  • Distinguished Contribution to Women's Health, American Psychological Association, Committee on Women in Psychology
  • Distinguished Service Award for the book, No Safe Haven, Male Violence Against Women at Home, at Work, and in the Community
  • Heritage Award recognizing a substantial and outstanding body of work, American Psychological Association, Division 35 (Psychology of Women)
  • Distinguished Contributions to Research in Public Policy, American Psychological Association
  • American Psychological Association Committee on Women in Psychology Leadership Award (Senior Career)
  • Presidential Citation, American Psychological Association
  • Visionary Award from End Violence Against Women International
  • Distinguished Publication Award, Association for Women in Psychology
  • Brother Peace Award, National Association of Men Against Sexism
  • Distinguished Contribution to the Science of Psychology Award, Arizona Psychological Association
  • Distinguished Scholarly Contribution to Research on Acquaintance Rape, Safe Schools Coalition
  • Distinguished Contribution to Women's Health, American Psychological Association, Committee on Women in Psychology
  • Heritage Award recognizing a substantial and outstanding body of work, American Psychological Association, Division 35 (Psychology of Women)
  • Excellence in Teaching and Commitment to Public Health Faculty Award, Public Health Alliance, University of Arizona
  • American Psychological Association Committee on Women in Psychology Leadership Award (Senior Career)
  • Mel and Enid Zuckerman Arizona College of Public Health Research Prize
  • Presidential Citation, American Psychological Association
  • Visionary Award from End Violence Against Women International (7th Awardee)
  • Mary P. Koss Profile in Courage Award, One-in-Four Organization
  • American Psychological Association Award for Contributions to the International Advancement of Psychology
  • University of Minnesota Psychology Distinguished Alumni Award
  • Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award (Marquis Who's Who)
  • Lifetime Achievement in Violence Against Women Research and Advocacy, Institute for Trauma, Violence and Abuse
  • Caroline Wood Sherif Award for Contributions to the Psychology of Women, American Psychological Association, Division 35

Consulting and Policy Contributions (2023-2024)

Dr. Koss has held numerous consulting roles related to sexual violence prevention and policy. Her recent contributions include:

  • 2023: Convener, The Sexual Experiences Survey Perpetration (SES-P) Revision

Collaborative (ongoing)

  • 2023: Initiator and member of The Sexual Experiences Survey Adolescent (SES-A)(ongoing)

Revision Collaborative

  • 2023: American Psychological Association brief to the NIH on Violence Against Women (ongoing)

research, co-sponsored by the offices of nursing and minority health (ongoing)

  • 2024: Member of The APA Advocacy Office Women’s Issues Expert Group (ongoing)
  • 2024: Member of USAID's Interagency Taskforce on Sexual Misconduct (ongoing)
  • 2024: Member of the Office on Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President on Federal research (ongoing)

Featured Media and Webinars

Dr. Koss has been featured in several high-profile media appearances and webinars, discussing her research on sexual violence and restorative justice: 1. This American Life (Episode 770, May 6, 2022), titled "My Lying Eyes";, aired on National Public Radio and was archived at the National Archives, Washington, DC. 2. National Public Radio (2019, October 10), Growing Efforts Are Looking At How — Or If — #MeToo Offenders Can Be Reformed. 3. University of Pennsylvania, Ortner Center on Violence and Abuse in Relationships (2019), Restorative Justice & Campus Sexual Assault. 4. National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2019), Action Collaborative on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education. 5. American Bar Association (2020, July 22), Webinar on Restorative Justice and Gender- Based Violence.

Selected publications

Books

  • Koss, Mary P.; Kazdin, Alan E.; White, Jacquelyn W. (2011). Violence against women and children: volume 1: mapping the terrain. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. ISBN 9781433809125.
  • Koss, Mary P.; Kazdin, Alan E.; White, Jacquelyn W. (2011). Violence against women and children: volume 2: navigating solutions. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. ISBN 9781433809149.

Chapters in books

  • Koss, Mary P.; Cook, Sarah L. (1993), "Facing the facts: date and acquaintance rape are significant problems for women", in Gelles, Richard J.; Loseke, Donileen R. (eds.), Current controversies on family violence, Newbury Park, California: SAGE Publications, pp. 104–119, ISBN 9780803946743.
  • Koss, Mary P.; Cook, Sarah L. (2005), "More data have accumulated supporting date and acquaintance rape as significant problems for women", in Gelles, Richard J.; Loseke, Donileen R.; Cavanaugh, Mary M. (eds.), Current controversies on family violence (2nd ed.), Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE, pp. 97–116, ISBN 9780761921066.

Journal articles

Reports

Policy Briefs

  • Koss, M.P., & Chisolm, K. (February 6, 2020). The Time Is Now: Restorative Justice for Sexual Misconduct. The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Mentions

  • Who's Who (Marquis) Biographee
    • 1983 18th edition, Who's Who in American Women
    • 1987 21st edition, Who's Who in the Midwest
    • 1988 2nd edition, Who's Who in Emerging Leaders
    • 1991 3rd edition, Who's Who in Emerging Leaders
    • 1992 18th edition, Who's Who in American Women
    • 1993 24th edition, Who's Who in the West
    • 2000 55th edition, Who's Who in America
    • 2003 6th edition, Who's Who in American Education
    • 2000 55th edition, Who's Who in America
    • 2006 9th edition, Who's Who in Science and Engineering
    • 2006 26th edition, Who's Who in American Women
    • 2008 27th edition, Who's Who in American Women
    • 2013- 67th and continuous subsequent editions, Who's Who in America, confirmed through 2022

References

  1. Raphael, Jody (2013). "The distortion of rape statistics: who's doing it and why". In Raphael, Jody (ed.). Rape is rape: how denial, distortion, and victim blaming are fueling a hidden acquaintance rape crisis. Chicago, Illinois: Lawrence Hill Books. pp. 23–29. ISBN 9781613744796.
  2. ^ No authorship indicated (November 2000). "Award for Distinguished Contributions to Research in Public Policy: Mary P. Koss". American Psychologist. 55 (11): 1330–1332. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.55.11.1330.
  3. Koss, Mary P. (June 1985). "The hidden rape victim: personality, attitudinal, and situational characteristics". Psychology of Women Quarterly. 9 (2): 193–212. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.1985.tb00872.x. S2CID 144049774.
  4. Koss & Oros. (1980). "The 'Unacknowledged' Rape Victim."
  5. When Male Rape Victims Are Accountable for Child Support
  6. ^ Koss, Mary P. (June 2014). "The RESTORE program of restorative justice for sex crimes vision, process, and outcomes". Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 29 (9): 1623–1660. doi:10.1177/0886260513511537. PMID 24368680. S2CID 42113128.
  7. Koss, Mary P.; Wilgus, Jay K.; Williamsen, Kaaren M. (July 2014). "Campus sexual misconduct: restorative justice approaches to enhance compliance with Title IX guidance". Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. 15 (3): 242–257. doi:10.1177/1524838014521500. PMID 24776460. S2CID 8277484. Pdf.
  8. University of Arizona Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. (2015). Curriculum Vitae . Retrieved August 27, 2015, from https://publichealth.arizona.edu/directory/Mary-Koss
  9. "Award for Distinguished Contributions to Research in Public Policy: Mary P. Koss". American Psychologist. 55 (11): 1330–1332. November 2000. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.55.11.1330.
  10. "Committee on Women in Psychology Leadership Award Citations". American Psychological Association. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
  11. "University of Arizona Public Health Professor Receives Visionary Award From End Violence Against Women International". University of Arizona. Retrieved 2014-05-20.

Further reading

External links

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