The relation between weight bias attitudes and judgments of sexual assault scenarios.

Abstract

Extant literature has explored the relationship between weight bias (WB) attitudes and sexual assault scenarios on perceptions of survivor and perpetrator responsibility, sympathy, and negative affect. While some studies support negative attitudes toward survivors of sexual assault as a result of having thin body types, other research displays a contradicting effect of victim-blaming attitudes toward heavier survivors. The current investigation examined the influences of survivor weight and sexual assault scenario ambiguity through four randomized vignettes. Further, the effect of participant gender and weight bias attitudes on perceptions of survivor and perpetrator responsibility, sympathy, and negative affect were evaluated. Participants (N = 396) were drawn from introductory psychology classes and received extra credit for participation. Participants completed measures of weight bias and answered questions related to their perceptions of a sexual assault vignette (i.e., thin vs. heavy survivor; ambiguous vs. unambiguous sexual assault scenario). Effects for participant gender, weight bias, and sexual assault ambiguity were evident. Interaction effects of participant gender with sexual assault ambiguity and weight bias with sexual assault ambiguity were also evident. These results indicate that as sexual assault scenarios increase in ambiguity, men (in comparison to women) and individuals high in weight bias tend to rate survivors more negatively and perpetrators more favorably.

Weight bias and judgments of sexual assault scenarios: It is not all about weight.

“…However, individuals high in weight bias (as well as individuals who identify as cisgender men) were more likely to rate the victim, regardless of weight, as ultimately to blame for the assault and demonstrated more favorable attitudes toward the perpetrator in the ambiguous relative to the unambiguous sexual assault scenario. Carels et al (2022) agreed with Zidenberg et al (2021), who speculated that when sexual assault ambiguity is present, people may rely more heavily on stereotypes to interpret the scenario. Zidenberg et al (2021) suggested one very damaging stereotype is the belief that sexual desirability is somehow necessary for sexual assault to occur.…”

“…Because past research has used a relatively subtle weight manipulation (i.e., a one-word description of weight at the beginning of a vignette) and findings regarding the impact of weight on perceptions of sexual assault, guilt, and responsibility have been mixed (Carels et al, 2022; Clarke & Lawson, 2009; Clarke & Stermac, 2011; Gotovac & Towson, 2015; Zidenberg et al, 2021), the current investigation used an enhanced weight manipulation in the form of a visual image of the heavy and thin survivor accompanied the vignette. It was determined that a visual image was sufficient to elicit weight bias through a brief pilot study.…”

“…Whether it be verbal coercion or other forms of sexual assault with more ambiguity, harmful stereotypes about women, particularly heavy women, tend to manifest. Carels et al (2022) finding also suggested that the impact of weight bias on perceptions of reduced culpability of sexual assault perpetrators may be less about the survivor's weight and more about the similarities between weight bias and certain ideological world views, such as RMA. However, because the weight manipulations in past investigations were relatively subtle (e.g., mentioning the weight of the survivor in a vignette), Carels et al (2022) noted that it would be premature to conclude survivor weight is not a factor in sexual assault perceptions.…”

“…When assault has been judged as a "crime of passion," attractive women are typically viewed as more responsible for their own sexual assault (Jacobson & Popovich, 1983). Carels et al (2022) aimed to further clarify the impact of weight bias on victim blaming using a series of sexual assault vignettes, based on similar research, where the weight of the survivor was manipulated (Clarke & Lawson, 2009;Clarke & Stermac, 2011;Zidenberg et al, 2021). Interestingly, Carels et al (2022) found that survivor weight had no impact on perceptions of survivors or perpetrators.…”

“…Carels et al (2022) aimed to further clarify the impact of weight bias on victim blaming using a series of sexual assault vignettes, based on similar research, where the weight of the survivor was manipulated (Clarke & Lawson, 2009; Clarke & Stermac, 2011; Zidenberg et al, 2021). Interestingly, Carels et al (2022) found that survivor weight had no impact on perceptions of survivors or perpetrators. However, individuals high in weight bias (as well as individuals who identify as cisgender men) were more likely to rate the victim, regardless of weight, as ultimately to blame for the assault and demonstrated more favorable attitudes toward the perpetrator in the ambiguous relative to the unambiguous sexual assault scenario.…”