Filing false vice reports: Distinguishing true from false allegations of rape

Abstract

False allegations constitute a problem since they may cause harm. To study the difference between true and false allegations we used a quasi-experimental approach. In the control condition likely true allegations were retrieved from criminal files. The victims, all female, were between the ages of 17 and 53 (M = 28.0, SD = 10.6). In the experimental condition women were invited to file a false allegation. Participants, all female, in the experimental conditions were between the ages of 18 and 52 (M = 28.0, SD = 10.6). We constructed a list of 187 variables based on our theory of fabricated rape. All items in the list were coded dichotomously. All variables that were coded as 'present' within cases were summed to obtain a total score; an independent t-test was used. The results of the control condition (N = 30) were compared with the experimental condition (N = 35) by use of chi-square tests. A Holm-Bonferoni method withŠidák correction was used to correct for the increased family-wise error rate. The independent t-test showed a significant difference between the mean number of present-coding of likely true allegations, (M = 59.13, SD = 11.00) and of false allegations (M = 35.74, SD = 9.33), t(63) = 9.28, p < .0001, d = 2.34. Thus, significantly more variables were coded 'present' in likely true allegations. Fabricated stories of rape lack pseudo-intimate behavior and a wide variety of sexual acts. Also, in almost all fabricated stories of rape the attack was completed in less than 15 minutes while in likely true allegations the attack sometimes took over 60 minutes before it was completed. In conclusion, true and false allegations diverge from each other in essentials of the story told by the complainant. The differences could be used to predict the true nature of a rape allegation.

Detecting the True Nature of Allegations of Rape

“…Consistent with the theory of fabricated rape, researchers reported differences between true and false allegations of rape (De Zutter et al 2016;Hunt and Bull 2012;Kanin 1994;Marshall and Alison 2006;McDowell and Hibler 1993;Parker and Brown 2000;Rassin and Van der Sleen 2005). Thus, it might be possible to develop a tool that uses this knowledge of known variations between true and fabricated allegations of sexual assault to predict the true nature of an allegation (De Zutter et al 2016;Hunt and Bull 2012;Parker and Brown 2000). Parker and Brown (2000) used statement validity analyses (SVA) to classify rape allegations into true and false allegations of rape.…”

“…The theory of fabricated rape predicts that a false allegation will entail detectable differences in comparison with true allegations of rape based on the principle that a false complainant of rape has not been raped and has to fabricate a story while the story of a true victim is based on recollections of the event. The current research tries to replicate the results of the study conducted by De Zutter et al (2016) and will test whether it is possible to build a model to distinguish true and false allegations of rape based on the aforementioned characteristics.…”

“…De Zutter et al (2016) proposed a new theory based on the literature that might aid to attain that goal, the theory of fabricated rape. The theory of fabricated rape predicts that a false allegation will bolster detectable differences in comparison with true allegations of rape based on the principle that a false complainant of rape has not been raped and has to fabricate a story while the story of a true victim is based on recollections of the event.…”

“…To test the validity of the theory of fabricated rape, De Zutter et al (2016) studied 65 allegations of rape. A quasiexperimental design was used.…”

“…The same method was employed by the previously described study by De Zutter et al (2016). These researchers identified characteristics that were typical for true allegations of rape as well as characteristics that were typical for false allegations of rape.…”