Moderating Factors in Culpability Ratings and Rape Proclivity in Stranger and Acquaintance Rape: Validation of Rape Vignettes in a Community Sample

Abstract

Rape is a serious concern globally. Past research has identified Ambivalent Sexism (AS), Rape Myth Acceptance (RMA), and the victim–perpetrator relationship as key constructs influencing rape blame attributions and rape proclivity. Limitations with methodologies have, however, limited the practical implications of past research, particularly in the context of underpowered samples and a lack of transparency in vignette development and implementation. In the current research, three studies aimed to validate material to be used in research into rape perceptions and to examine the impact of victim–perpetrator relationship, AS, and RMA on victim and perpetrator culpability, and rape proclivity, using an experimental design. On 563 participants, this research developed and validated six rape vignettes which accounted for methodological limitations of past research (Study One) and were found to be believable and realistic by participants; it further found that aggressively sexist attitudes were associated with increased victim culpability and decreased perpetrator culpability (Study Two), and increased rape proclivity (Study Three). Scenarios of a casual acquaintance produced the highest levels of victim culpability and the lowest levels of perpetrator culpability. Victims were ascribed more control than blame, or responsibility. Men reported the highest levels of rape proclivity in scenarios of casual acquaintance, and intimate partner relationships. Contrary to past research, Benevolent Sexism (BS) did not directly impact attributions in rape cases but may maintain and legitimize the attitudes, which do. As some of our findings contradict past research, we suggest that the need for standardized rape vignettes is evident, along with greater transparency and methodological rigor in sexual assault research, as this will improve the practical implications of findings. Reproducible research practices may be useful for this. While limited in diversity, this research has important implications for policy and research practice, particularly in producing validated material that can be reused by future researchers.

Blame, Control, or Responsibility? Validation of Sexual Assault Culpability Measures

“…A high score indicated that participants implicated the man more in the assault. As our past research indicates a less than perfect correlation between victim and perpetrator culpability (Persson & Dhingra, 2021), we suggest that there is a utility in measuring these constructs separately, rather than as one combined measure. The scale items, as well as their relation to the underlying constructs can be found in Table 1.…”

“…While there is mixed evidence as to the difference between some of these constructs (e.g., Gravelin et al, 2018;Richardson & Campbell, 1980;Shaver & Drown, 1986), our recent exploratory analyses (Persson & Dhingra, 2021) indicated that women subjected to rape were attributed significantly more control, than blame, or responsibility. As such, there is an evident need for validated measures of these constructs, as this will contribute to a strengthening of the methodology of this field.…”

“…As part of our recent investigation into victim and perpetrator culpability in rape cases (Persson & Dhingra, 2021), we drew on previous research in this area to devise victim and perpetrator culpability scales. These scales are intended to be used to measure victim and perpetrator culpability in response to varying situations of rape, for instance through the use of a vignette design.…”

“…It is generally expected that data on victim and perpetrator blame demonstrate non-normality, as levels of victim blame tend to be low, and levels of perpetrator blame tend to be high (Persson & Dhingra, 2020;, and this was the case with the current dataset. Further details on the spread of the data can be found in Persson & Dhingra (2021).…”

“…Although there are many reasons why victims are reluctant to report rape to police, it has been suggested that a major reporting barrier is the woman's fear that police will question the veracity and credibility of her claims, or even blame her for their assault. Unfortunately, this concern appears to hold some truth, as a large evidence base suggests that victim blame is prevalent in rape cases, particularly when the victim knows the perpetrator (Gravelin et al, 2018;Persson & Dhingra, 2021;Suarez & Gadalla, 2010). This highlights both victim and perpetrator blame as highly relevant constructs in the context of researching sexual assault and rape attributions.…”