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Attribution of blame in rape cases: The impact of norm violation, gender, and sex-role attitude

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Abstract

The present study compares the importance of the characteristics of the rape victims to the characteristics of observers in the attribution of blame in rape cases. Both blame of the victim and blame of the rapist are considered, along with seriousness of the crime, perceived norm violation, respectability, behavioral intentions toward the victim, and behavioral intentions toward the rapist. A factorial design is applied to data collected from 389 college students. Rape is found to be rated serious independently of any factors. Gender relates only to behavioral intentions, while sex-role attitude relates to respectability of the victim, blame of the victim, and blame of the rapist. No substantial statistical interaction effects are found. The findings of the research suggest the need to consider observer characteristics in order to understand the attribution of blame and social perceptions in rape cases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 24061, Blacksburg, Virginia

    Alan C. Acock

  2. University of California at Berkeley, USA

    Nancy K. Ireland

Authors
  1. Alan C. Acock
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  2. Nancy K. Ireland
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Additional information

The authors acknowledge the contribution of Carolyn Morgan and Wilbur Scot to an earlier version of this paper and the contributions of John Edwards and James Michaels to later revisions.

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Acock, A.C., Ireland, N.K. Attribution of blame in rape cases: The impact of norm violation, gender, and sex-role attitude. Sex Roles 9, 179–193 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00289622

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