Perceptions of Victims and Perpetrators in a Depicted Child Sexual Abuse Case

Abstract

This study investigated the roles of respondent, perpetrator, and victim gender on attributions toward a 10- or 15-year-old victim and an adult perpetrator in a hypothetical sexual abuse case. It was predicted (a) that female respondents would be more provictim and antiperpetrator than men, (b) that 10-year-old victims would be deemed more credible than 15-year-olds, and (c) that men would deem a 15-year-old male victim more culpable when child sexual abuse is perpetrated by a female abuser. Three hundred thirty-seven respondents read a 350-word sexual abuse depiction in which victim age, victim gender, and perpetrator gender were varied between respondents. Respondents then completed a 14-item attribution scale, relating to victim blame, perpetrator blame, assault severity, and victim credibility. A series of ANOVAs revealed support for all predictions. Results are discussed in relation to gender role attitudes. Suggestions for future work also considered.

Perceptions of Blame and Credibility Toward Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Differences Across Victim Age, Victim-Perpetrator Relationship, and Respondent Gender in a Depicted Case

“…Consistent with previous research (e.g., Davies & Rogers, 2004;Rogers & Davies, 2007), independent samples t-tests revealed no significant differences across CSA victims versus nonvictims in any of the dependent measures examined. As such, all respondents' are treated as a homogenous group regardless of their own victim status.…”

“…Men tend to make more negative attributions toward child victims than women (Back & Lips, 1998;Broussard & Wagner, 1988;Davies & Rogers, 2004;Eisenberg et al, 1987;Maynard & Weiderman, 1997;Reynolds & Birkimer, 2002;Rogers & Davies, 2007). In Broussard and Wagner's (1988) study, men considered male victims particularly responsible when the victim's behavior was encouraging.…”

“…Of these, nine items assessed participant's perceptions of victim and perpetrator blame/responsibility plus subjective measures of assault severity and sympathy for the victim. These were adapted from other work by the current authors (e.g., Davies & Rogers, 2004;Rogers & Davies, 2007). The remaining five items assessed participants' view of credibility, specifically competence and trustworthiness (cf.…”

The Sexual Double Standard and Gender Differences in Predictors of Perceptions of Adult-Teen Sexual Relationships

“…Studies of child sexual abuse have demonstrated that the gender of the abuser strongly determines how offenders are perceived, with men viewed more negatively than women (Bornstein et al 2006;Rogers and Davies 2007). The four key studies on perceptions of adult-teen sexual relationships examined how the genders of the adult and teen influenced perceptions.…”

Judgments of Sexual Abuse Victims

“…Other research has revealed differences in evaluation of sexual abuse victims depending on perpetrator and victim gender as well as victim age (Quas, Bottoms, Haegerich, & Nysse-Carris, 2002;Rogers & Davies, 2007). For example, older children who have been sexually abused are judged less positively and as more responsible for what happened to them than younger children.…”