MALE-FEMALE, INTERVIEWER-RESPONDENT INTERACTION IN OBSERVER PERCEPTIONS OF RAPE

• NCJ Number: 56878
• Author(s): P K KOCH; J R BEAN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION CONVENTION, TORONTO (CN), AUGUST 28-SEPTEMBER 1, 1978

Annotation

PERCEPTIONS OF MALES AND FEMALES CONCERNING VICTIM CONTRIBUTION TO THE CRIME OF RAPE WERE COMPARED, AND INTERACTION BETWEEN INTERVIEWERS AND RESPONDENTS WAS ASSESSED IN TERMS OF ATTRIBUTION OF BLAME TO THE VICTIM.

Abstract

SUBJECTS FOR THE STUDY INCLUDED 158 MALE AND 159 FEMALE UNDERGRADUATES AT VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES WERE EXPERIMENTER SEX, SUBJECT SEX, TIME OF DAY THE RAPE OCCURRED (3 A.M. OR 3 P.M.), AND VICTIM STATUS. TWENTY MALE AND FEMALE EXPERIMENTERS, UNDERGRADUATES IN A SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY COURSE, EACH INTERVIEWED TWO MALE AND TWO FEMALE SUBJECTS UNDER VARYING CONDITIONS. RESULTS INDICATED THAT MALES INTERACTING WITH MALE EXPERIMENTERS ATTRIBUTED MUCH MORE ENTICEMENT TO THE VICTIM IN THE EARLY MORNING CONDITION, AND SAW HER AS CONTRIBUTING MUCH MORE TO HER RAPE AT THAT TIME. DISREGARDING TIME OF DAY, MALE EXPERIMENTERS REPORTED DATA FROM MALE SUBJECTS THAT ATTRIBUTED MORE CAUSAL BLAME TO RAPE VICTIMS AND MORE ENTICEMENT. FEMALE SUBJECTS GENERALLY REPORTED LOW ENTICEMENT AND CONTRIBUTION RATINGS, PARTICULARLY TO FEMALE EXPERIMENTERS. IN GENERAL, THE HIGHEST ENTICEMENT, CONTRIBUTION, AND FORESIGHT RATINGS WERE ELICITED FROM SUBJECTS BY MALE EXPERIMENTERS WHO DESCRIBED THE VICTIM ON THE STREET AT 3 A.M. REGARDLESS OF TIME OF DAY, MALE SUBJECTS INTERVIEWED BY MALE EXPERIMENTERS SAID THE VICTIM COULD HAVE FORESEEN HER ASSAULT. FEMALE SUBJECTS TENDED TO RATE FORESEEABILITY TO THE VICTIM AS LOW, ESPECIALLY WITH FEMALE EXPERIMENTERS. SUBJECTS RESPONDED TO FEMALE EXPERIMENTERS BY SUGGESTING LONGER PRISON SENTENCES FOR THE RAPIST AND LESSENING THE FAULT PLACED ON THE VICTIM. DIFFERENCES IN PERCEPTIONS OF HIGH STATUS AND LOW STATUS VICTIMS WERE OBSERVED, WITH STATUS DEFINED BY EDUCATION AND ATTRACTIVENESS. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS FOR LEGAL PROCESSES AND CULTURAL PERCEPTIONS OF RAPE SHOULD BE FURTHER INVESTIGATED. FACTORS POSSIBLY CONTRIBUTING TO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALES AND FEMALES IN THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF RAPE VICTIMS ARE DISCUSSED, AND REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)