NCJ Number
93623
Journal
Human Relations Volume: 34 Issue: 3 Dated: (1981) Pages: 225-237
Date Published
1981
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the influence of individual differences in attributional tendencies on the perception of a rape victim's causal role in her own victimization.
Abstract
Respondents' general tendency to attribute cause of events in another person's life to either personal, internal reasons or external, environmental ones was assessed, as were their attitudes to a variety of items on the subject of rape. Factor analysis of the rape questionnaire produced four factors: victim precipitation-responsibility, negative evaluation, sexual motivation, and power motivation. With the victim precipitation-responsibility factor serving as a measure of attributed responsibility, a factorial design was created with sex of subject and attributional propensity serving as independent measures. Males perceived significantly greater precipitation-responsibility on the part of a rape victim than did female respondents. There was also a significant overall trend for attributional orientation, with 'personals' indicating greater victim responsibility than that expressed by 'environmentals.' This effect was particularly evident among male subjects, while females did not significantly differ among themselves. Neither attributional nor sex differences were apparent in analyses of the evaluative or motivational factors. Tables and 28 references are supplied. (Author abstract modified)