NCJ Number
175101
Journal
International Review of Victimology Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: 1997 Pages: 255-265
Date Published
1997
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study examines the impact of displays of emotion and ethnicity of a rape victim on impression formation of white male and female observers.
Abstract
In the study, 51 male and 49 female observers watched a videotape of a rape victim (an actress) during a simulated police interview. The ethnicity of the victim (white vs. black) and emotion displayed by the victim (sad vs. angry) were systematically manipulated. Observers' interpretations of what had happened were investigated by means of a questionnaire. The type of emotion displayed by the victim did not influence female observers' judgments, only male observers' judgments. Male observers found the angry victim less distressed and less reliable than the sad victim, suggesting that an angry victim might be treated with disbelief, little sympathy and less support by males than a sad victim. Social stereotypes operated less strongly in female observers. Men assessed rape victims more negatively than women, females were more sensitive to nonverbal behavior cues, and skin color did not have any influence on impression formation. Tables, notes, references