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

Abstract

Acquaintance rape attributions of responsibility were investigated. In Study 1, participants viewed videotapes that varied the female victim's resistance (verbal, physical, verbal/physical) and the reaction of the perpetrator (anger, no reaction) or a control videotape. The victim was held less responsible and the perpetrator was held more responsible when the victim resisted. In Study 2, participants viewed videotapes that manipulated victim and perpetrator reputation. Victims were held more responsible when they had a bad reputation; perpetrators were held more responsible when the victim had a good reputation or the perpetrator had a bad reputation. Hostile sexism predicted victim responsibility in both studies; rape myth predicted victim and perpetrator responsibility in Study 2. Implications for the legal system are discussed.

A review of the literature relating to rape victim blaming: An analysis of the impact of observer and victim characteristics on attribution of blame in rape cases

“…This study confirmed the findings from research using the vignette methodology; victims were blamed less when they resisted and when they had a good reputation. Moreover, gender role attitudes and rape myth acceptance were again found to be significant predictors of victim blame thereby reinforcing the findings of vignette based studies (Cohn et al, 2009). Other researchers have adopted a qualitative approach instead, in order to be able to investigate the naturalistic aspect of the concept of blame as it occurs in conversation in more depth.…”

Judge me, judge me not: The role of eye size and observer gender on acquaintance rape

“…Our findings add to the evidence that men assign more responsibility and blame to rape victims (e.g., Cohn et al, 2009;Deitz et al, 1984;Gölge et al, 2003;Mitchell, Angelone, Kohlberger, & Hirschman, 2009;Workman & Freeburg 1999), providing no support for past findings which reported no gender differences concerning attributions of responsibility (Davies, Gilston, & Rogers, 2012;Frese, Moya, & Megías, 2004;Gerdes et al, 1988;Krahè, 1988;Johnson et al, 1989).…”

“…In some studies, observer gender was shown not to influence the attributions of responsibility for rape (e.g., Acock & Ireland, 1983;Gerdes et al, 1988;Krahè, 1988;Johnson, Jackson, & Smith, 1989). Most of the studies, however, report gender differences, showing that men have less positive attitudes towards the victim and hold her more responsible for the crime (e.g., Cohn et al, 2009;Deitz et al, 1984;Gölge et al, 2003;Whatley, 2005;Workman & Freeburg, 1999). Some authors even report that women are more anales de psicología, 2016, vol.…”

Rape Crimes Reviewed: The Role of Observer Variables in Female Victim Blaming

“…Yet, there is mixed evidence as to whether female victim blaming is affected by gendered perceptions. Different studies show that gender does not impact upon female victim blaming (e.g., Cohn, Dupuis, & Brown, 2009;Frese et al, 2004;Mandela, 2011;Newcombe et al, 2008;Rye, Greatix, & Enright, 2006;Strömwall, Alfredsson, & Landström, 2013;Viki & Abrams, 2002;Whatley, 2005). This propensity has been shown across different cultures, namely American (e.g., Rye et al, 2006), Swedish , Australian (e.g., Newcombe et al, 2008), and Spanish (e.g., Frese et al, 2004).…”