NCJ Number
128422
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1991) Pages: 29-40
Date Published
1991
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This experiment tests the hypothesis that a numbed style of self-presentation by rape victims as compared to an emotional one, will result more strongly in secondary victimization by the environment.
Abstract
Participants were 80 female vocational education students varying in age from 16 to 21 years. The variables were the extent to which observers tend to show undesirable reactions to a victim reporting her experience to them, and the extent to which they, if confronted with a similar victim experience, would be willing to inform others in their environment. Results suggest that a victim characterized by an emotional self-presentation is more strongly perceived as a woman who exhibited caution and as a person who was not responsible for the situation. The data suggests that the public's acquaintance with and awareness of self-presentation biases should be raised. 3 tables and 52 references (Author abstract modified)