PENALTIES FOR RAPE AS A FUNCTION OF VICTIM PROVOCATIVENESS, DAMAGE, AND RESISTANCE

• NCJ Number: 40190
• Journal: Journal of Applied Social Psychology Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (1976) Pages: 360-368
• Author(s): J R SCROGGS
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: V H Winston & Sons, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

COLLEGE PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIMENT GAUGES DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE, OLDER AND YOUNGER SUBJECTS ON RAPE AND ROBBERY.

Abstract

IN THE FIRST EXPERIMENT, THE SUBJECTS WERE PRESENTED WITH A CASE IN WHICH THE VICTIM WAS EITHER PROVOCATIVELY DRESSED OR NONPROVOCATIVELY DRESSED, AND EITHER PREGNANT AS A RESULT OF THE RAPE OR NOT PREGNANT. OLDER SUBJECTS WHO WERE ASKED TO BE A JUDGE FOR THE CONVICTED RAPIST GAVE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER PENALTIES WHEN THE VICTIM WAS PREGNANT, WHILE YOUNGER SUBJECTS DID NOT. IN THE SECOND EXPERIMENT, THE CASES PRESENTED THE VICTIMS AS BEING EITHER RAPED OR ROBBED AND AS RESISTING OR NOT RESISTING HER ATTACKER. MALE SUBJECTS WHO WERE ASKED TO BE A JUDGE FOR THE CONVICTED RAPIST GAVE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER PENALTIES WHEN THE VICTIM DID NOT RESIST, WHILE FEMALE SUBJECTS GAVE HIGHER PENALTIES WHEN THE VICTIM DID NOT RESIST. THE AUTHOR BELIEVES THESE DIFFERENCES RECEIVED INFLUENCE FROM THE WOMEN'S LIBERATION MOVEMENT AND THE GENERATION GAP....BS