Reactions to Rape Victims: Attributions of Attractiveness, Social Desirability and Responsibility

Abstract

This study sought to compare reactions to rape victims with reactions to victims of crime (robbery). Drawing from past victimization research, i.e. just world, defensive attribution and empathy evoking hypotheses, the variables of crime-type and perceived role similarity to the victim and/or perpetrator were explored using dependent measures of attributed attractiveness, social desirability and responsibility. A story format was used with the outcomes, rape or robbery, and similar or neutral victim/perpetrator descriptions, varying by condition. The research materials were group administered to 120 male and female undergraduate psychology students at the University of Bridgeport, subjects filled out self-rated and victim rating scales, which formulated the objective measures, and were also given an opportunity to write comments, which furnished subjective data. Rape victims were rated as attractive, socially desirable and partially responsible as were robbery victims. No significant differences were found between groups or sex of subject in the objective data. The comments reflected three categories of reactions to rape and robbery victims: those indicating (1) faulty character; (2) faulty actions; and (3) empathy.