Role of Sexual Provocativeness, Rape History, and Observer Gender in Perceptions of Blame in Sexual Assault

• NCJ Number: 128426
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1991) Pages: 94-101
• Author(s): D G Schult; L J Schneider
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study assesses the joint influence of sexual provocativeness and prior sexual assault on perceptions of rape victims.

Abstract

Males and females read rape reports presented in a factorial design that completely crossed levels of these variables. Victim provocativeness and prior rape history did not exercise a joint influence on observers' perceptions. To a limited extent, victims' rape histories influenced observers' assignments of blame. The findings support the notion that observers attribute more blame to rape victims when the victims are viewed as possessing qualities (e.g., sexual experience) that make them more likely targets. Wanting a rape victim to accept more blame suggests that observers may expect a victim to have profited from the first experience in such a way that she could have prevented the second rape. This could imply that observers perceive recidivists as unwilling to learn from past experiences. 2 tables and 14 references (Author abstract modified)