EFFECTS OF RAPE VICTIM RESISTANCE, ASSAULT OUTCOME, AND SEX OF OBSERVER ON ATTRIBUTIONS ABOUT RAPE

• NCJ Number: 67097
• Journal: JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY Volume: 47 Issue: 4 Dated: (1979) Pages: 557-574
• Author(s): J E KRULEWITZ; J E NASH
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 18 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY INVESTIGATED PERCEPTIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AS A FUNCTION OF SEX OF OBSERVER, NATURE OF VICTIM RESISTANCE, AND ASSAULT OUTCOME.

Abstract

THE STUDY INVOLVED 117 FEMALE AND 112 MALE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY WHO READ A DESCRIPTION OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND THEN RATED THE DEGREE TO WHICH THEY CONSIDERED THE INCIDENT A RAPE, ASSIGNED A PRISON TERM TO THE ASSAILANT, AND RESPONDED TO QUESTIONS ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF VICTIM AND ASSAILANT, PERSONAL RESPECTABILITY ATTRIBUTED TO EACH PERSON, THE OUTCOME OF THE ASSAULT, AND ASSAILANT'S BEHAVIOR. IT WAS FOUND THAT: (1) SUBJECTS WERE MORE CERTAIN THAT RAPE HAD OCCURRED AS THE VICTIM RESISTED MORE; (2) SUBJECTS ATTRIBUTED GREATER RESPONSIBILITY TO THE VICTIM FOR COMPLETED THAN FOR ATTEMPTED RAPE, WHILE THE REVERSE PATTERN WAS FOUND FOR THE ASSAILANT; (3) WOMEN ATTRIBUTED MORE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE ASSAILANT THAN DID MEN; AND (4) MEN ATTRIBUTED LESS FAULT AND MORE INTELLIGENCE, AND WOMEN ATTRIBUTED MORE FAULT AND LESS INTELLIGENCE TO THE RAPE VICTIM AS SHE RESISTED MORE FORCEFULLY. FAULT, BLAME, AND RESPONSIBILITY WERE FOUND NOT TO BE INTERCHANGEABLE. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT WOMEN DID NOT EVALUATE OR DEFINE RAPE DIFFERENTLY THAN MEN, NOR WERE THERE SEX DIFFERENCES FOR THE PRISON TERM ASSIGNED. WOMEN AND MEN MAY WELL DIFFER IN THEIR APPROACHES TO AGGRESSION OR IN THE WAYS THEY WOULD INITIALLY RESPOND TO THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING ASSAULTED. ONLY RESPONSIBILITY ATTRIBUTED TO THE VICTIM AND BLAME ATTRIBUTED TO THE ASSAILANT SHOWED SIGNIFICANT SEX EFFECTS. WOMEN WOULD REASONABLY FOCUS ON THE VICTIM'S BEHAVIOR WHICH EITHER CONTROLLED OR COULD HAVE CONTROLLED THE SITUATION, WHEREAS MEN WOULD BE LESS LIKELY TO NOTICE VERY CLOSELY THE VICTIM'S BEHAVIOR. FINALLY, THE VICTIM'S OWN AND OTHERS' PERCEPTIONS OF HER BEHAVIOR WILL BE AFFECTED NOT ONLY BY THE STATEGY CHOICE, BUT BY THE OUTCOME ITSELF ALSO. TABLES, GRAPHS, FOOTNOTES, AND 24 REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.