Social Perception of the Rape Victim's Culpability: The Influence of Respondents' Personal-Environmental Causal Attribution Tendencies

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of individual differences in attributional tendencies on the perception of a rape victim's causal role in her own vicitmization. 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.

Social Psychological Issues in the Study of Rape

“…Here, the overall pattern of findings suggests that men attribute more responsibility to rape victims than women (e.g. Calhoun et aZ., 1978;Jenkins & Dambrot, 1987;Thornton, Robbins & Johnson, 1981;Thornton & Ryckman, 1983). However, a number of studies failed to obtain sex differences (e.g.…”

In the Eye of the Beholder: Do Behavior and Character Affect Victim and Perpetrator Responsibility for Acquaintance Rape?1

“…It should be noted that the victim was held less responsible ( M = 28.98) than the perpetrator ( M = 82.25). Hypothesis 1, which predicted that men would hold the victim more responsible than women was not supported, despite past research (Calhoun, Selby, & Warring, 1976; Calhoun & Townsley, 1991; Langley, Yost et al., 1991; Thornton, Robbins, & Johnson, 1981). Hostile sexism and resistance were the significant variables in the formation of victim responsibility attributions.…”

Sexual assault prevention programs Current issues, future directions, and the potential efficacy of interventions with women

“…Although there exists some controversy over whether or not women adhere to rape myths that may place them at risk for sexual assault (Thorton, Robbins, & Johnson, 1981), it seems risky for any sexual assault program to fail to deliver accurate information regarding the nature of sexual victimization. There does exist some evidence to suggest that females do not always have adequate information regarding this behavioral phenomenon, and that lack of such information is correlated with an increased risk for sexual assault (Muehlenhard & McNaugton, 1988).…”