Who is most often the perpetrator in sexual assault?

• A. A stranger
• B. A coworker
• C. Someone the victim/survivor knows
• D. A random passerby

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that sexual assault most often involves someone the survivor already knows, not a stranger. Data across studies show that the majority of perpetrators are intimate partners, family members, friends, or coworkers—people within the survivor’s social or relational circle. This pattern matters for practice because it shapes how we assess risk, offer safety planning, and understand coercion and power dynamics. It means we should routinely ask about relationships, trust, and dynamics of control, and recognize that abuse can occur within ongoing relationships or familiar settings, not just in vague “unknown” scenarios. While assaults by strangers do occur, they are less common than those by someone the survivor knows, so focusing on relational context is essential for effective support and intervention.