NCJ Number
40641
Journal
Journal of Research in Personality Volume: 10 Dated: (1976) Pages: 346-357
Date Published
1976
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A SAMPLE OF 236 MALES AND 241 FEMALES SURVEYED TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH SOCIAL ROLE OF VICTIMS AND 'JUST WORLD' CONSIDERATIONS WOULD AFFECT PERCEPTIONS OF VICTIM RESPONSIBILITY IN RAPE CASES.
Abstract
THE SUBJECTS WERE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN UNDERGRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY COURSES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. SUBJECTS WERE ASKED TO READ A DESCRIPTION OF A RAPE INCIDENT IN WHICH THE OCCUPATION OF THE RAPE VICTIM AND THE DEGREE OF PRIOR ACQUAINTANCE BETWEEN VICTIM AND ASSAILANT WERE MANIPULATED. THE RAPE VICTIM WAS EITHER A TOPLESS-BOTTOMLESS DANCER, A SOCIAL WORKER, OR A CATHOLIC NUN, AND SHE WAS EITHER ACQUAINTED OR UNACQUAINTED WITH HER ASSAILANT. IN THE ACQUAINTED CONDITION, THE DANCER WAS ATTRIBUTED THE GREATEST AND THE NUN THE LEAST AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY, INDICATING THAT SOCIAL ROLE FACTORS CAN GOVERN THE RANGE OF ATTRIBUTIONAL JUDGMENTS WHICH MIGHT BE MADE IN ANY GIVEN INSTANCE. HOWEVER, UNACQUAINTED VICTIMS WERE ASCRIBED MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE RAPE THAN WERE ACQUAINTED VICTIMS, A DIFFERENCE WHICH WAS SIGNIFICANT WHEN THE VICTIM WAS THE NUN. THE LATTER FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF LERNER'S JUST WORLD BY HYPOTHESIS. SIGNIFICANT SEX DIFFERENCES WERE FOUND IN SUBJECTS' PERCEPTIONS OF AND RESPONSES TO THE RAPE INCIDENT AND, CONTRARY TO EARLIER FINDINGS, NO RELATIONSHIP WAS FOUND BETWEEN VICTIM ATTRACTIVENESS AND PUNITIVENESS TOWARD THE WRONGDOER. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...DMC