SOCIAL CONTEXT VARIABLES IN THE SOCIAL PERCEPTION OF RAPE

• NCJ Number: 53057
• Author(s): A CANN; L G CALHOUN; K GRIFFIN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION CONVENTION, SOCIAL PERCEPTIONS OF RAPE VICTIMS - CURRENT STATUS SYMPOSIUM, TORONTO, CANADA, 1978

Annotation

PRELIMINARY RESULTS ARE REPORTED FOR A STUDY MEASURING PERCEPTIONS OF VICTIM AND OFFENDER RESPONSIBILITY IN RAPES IN THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE PHYSICAL AND INTERPERSONAL CONTEXTS IN WHICH A RAPE OCCURRED.

Abstract

IN THE STUDY REPORTED, A SERIES OF SETTINGS WERE PRESENTED TO SUBJECTS, AND THEY WERE ASKED TO RATE THE SETTINGS ON A SERIES OF DIMENSIONS, INCLUDING THE 'PERCEIVED PROBABILITY OF A WOMAN BEING RAPED IN THE SETTING' AND THE 'PERCEIVED DANGEROUSNESS OF THE SETTING.' THE SETTINGS PRESENTED WERE NOT SIMPLY PHYSICAL LOCATIONS, BUT INCLUDED OTHER INFORMATION WHICH WAS BELIEVED NECESSARY TO INSURE THAT ALL SUBJECTS WERE RATING THE SAME SETTING. TWO RAPE SCENARIOS WERE THAN CREATED FOR THE SUBJECTS, WITH EACH BEING IDENTICAL EXCEPT FOR THE PHYSICAL CONTEXT. EVALUATIONS BY THE OBSERVERS INDICATED THAT WHEN THE RAPE TOOK PLACE IN THE HIGH PROBABILITY/DANGEROUS SETTING (A PARK AT NIGHT): GREATER RESPONSIBILITY WAS ASSIGNED TO THE VICTIM; THE VICTIM WAS JUDGED TO BE THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO GETS HERSELF INTO THESE SITUATIONS; THE VICTIM WAS PERCEIVED AS HAVING BEEN INSUFFICIENTLY CAREFUL; AND THE VICTIM SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER THAN TO BE IN THAT SETTING. THESE FINDINGS SUPPORT THE 'FORESEEABILITY' HYPOTHESIS OF THE RESEARCHERS THAT OBSERVERS RATE VICTIM RESPONSIBILITY ACCORDING TO THE FORESEEABILITY OF THE POSSIBILITY OF RAPE OCCURRING IN A PARTICULAR CONTEXT. A SECOND PART OF THE STUDY ASKED SUBJECTS TO RATE VICTIM AND RAPIST FAULT, LIKING FOR THE VICTIM AND RAPIST, SEX AS THE MOTIVATION FOR THE RAPE, AND CIRCUMSTANCES AS THE CAUSE ACCORDING TO THE DESCRIBED CHARACTER OF THE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP EXISTING BETWEEN VICTIM AND RAPIST PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. RESULTS INDICATED THAT A VICTIM IS PERCEIVED TO BE MOST AT FAULT AND THE RAPIST LEAST AT FAULT WHEN INTERCOURSE HAS OCCURRED BETWEEN THEM PRIOR TO THE RAPE INCIDENT. THE RAPIST WHO WAS A STRANGER WAS MOST AT FAULT, BUT THE VICTIM WHO HAD DATED THE RAPIST BUT HAD NOT HAD PRIOR INTERCOURSE WAS LEAST AT FAULT. RESULTS OF STUDIES HAVING A BEARING ON THIS RESEARCH ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)