PERCEPTIONS OF VICTIMS AND DEFENDANTS IN CRIMINAL ASSAULT CASES

• NCJ Number: 35487
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1976) Pages: 135-150
• Author(s): S FELDMAN-SUMMERS; K LINDNER
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: American Assoc of Correctional Psychologists
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS EXPERIMENT DEALT WITH THE MANNER IN WHICH MALE AND FEMALE SUBJECTS PERCEIVE THE VICTIM AND THE DEFENDANT INVOLVED IN A CRIMINAL ASSAULT.

Abstract

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VICTIM, TYPE OF CRIME COMMITTED (RAPE, ATTEMPTED RAPE, PHYSICAL ASSAULT), AND SEX OF THE SUBJECT WERE SYSTEMATICALLY VARIED. THE FINDINGS INDICATE THAT AS THE RESPECTABILITY OF THE VICTIM DECREASES, HER PERCEIVED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE RAPE INCREASES. FURTHERMORE, AS THE VICTIM'S RESPECTABILITY DECLINES, THE PERCEIVED IMPACT OF THE CRIME ON THE VICTIM DECREASES. IN ADDITION, SIGNIFICANT SEX DIFFERENCES EMERGED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LENGTH OF JAIL SENTENCE RECOMMENDED FOR THE DEFENDANT, PERCEIVED PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF THE CRIME ON THE VICTIM, THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CRIME, AND THE PERCEIVED GUILT OF THE DEFENDANT. THE RESULTS ARE INTERPRETED WITHIN A BALANCE THEORY FRAMEWORK, AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE RESEARCH FOR LEGAL PROCEDURES ARE DISCUSSED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)