This article was downloaded by: [Central Michigan University] On: 01 January 2015, At: 10:55 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK
The Journal of Social Psychology Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vsoc20
Perceptions of a Known Rape Victim: Role of Subject's Gender and Personal Experience with Rape a
a
Mark A. Barnett , Christina S. Sinisi & Steven W. Quackenbush
a
a
Department of Psychology , Kansas State University , USA Published online: 30 Jun 2010.
To cite this article: Mark A. Barnett , Christina S. Sinisi & Steven W. Quackenbush (1991) Perceptions of a Known Rape Victim: Role of Subject's Gender and Personal Experience with Rape, The Journal of Social Psychology, 131:1, 139-141, DOI: 10.1080/00224545.1991.9713834 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224545.1991.9713834
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or
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The Journal of Social Psychology. 131(1), 139-141
Downloaded by [Central Michigan University] at 10:55 01 January 2015
Perceptions of a Known Rape Victim: Role of Subject’s Gender and Personal Experience With Rape MARK A. BARNETT CHRISTINA S. SINISI STEVEN W. QUACKENBUSH Department of Psychology Kansas State University
NUMEROUS FACTORS have been found to influence an individual’s response to victims of rape, including the individual’s gender and personal experience with rape. For example, female subjects in the United States typically have been found to attribute less blame or responsibility to a victim of rape than do their male counterparts (Dietz, Littman, & Bentley, 1984; Tetreault & Lowman, 1987; Thornton. Ryckman, & Robbins, 1982; Wyer, Bodenhausen, & Gorman, 1985). Among female subjects, moreover, those who have experienced rape have been found to respond more empathically to a victim than do those who have not had such an experience (Barnett, Tetreault, & Masbad, 1987). Prior research on reactions to rape victims has typically asked subjects to consider a hypothetical victim described in an impersonal manner cnd hence has failed to address their perceptions of actual victims whom they know. The purpose of the present study was to determine the extent to which an individual’s perception of a known rape victim is influenced by the individual’s gender and personal experience with rape. As a part of a larger investigation, 298 American undergraduates (165 women, 133 men) completed a rape experience questionnaire on which they were asked (a) if they had ever been raped and (b) if they knew a victim of rape. Subjects who indicated that they did know a rape victim were asked various questions concerning their perceptions of the victim.
~
~
Reques:. for reprints should be sent to Mark A. Barnett, Department of Psychology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506. I39
Downloaded by [Central Michigan University] at 10:55 01 January 2015
140
The Journal of Social Psychology
In response to the questionnaire, 82 of the women (49.7%) and 53 of the men (39.9%) indicated that they knew a victim. Of the 82 women who knew one, 20 indicated also that they themselves had been a victim of rape (an additional 9 women who did not report knowing a victim identified themselves as victims). One of the 53 men who indicated that he knew a victim also identified himself as a victim of rape; his responses were excluded from the group comparisons. Responses to the 7-point rating scales on the rape experience questionnaire were analyzed in separate one-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) that compared the three subject groups who knew a rape victim: 20 female subjects who identified themselves as rape victims (FRV), 62 female subjects who did not identify themselves as rape victims (FNRV), and 52 male subjects who did not identify themselves as rape victims (MNRV). Those in the FRV group rated the rape victim whom they knew as having done less to contribute to the rape (M = 1.50) and having been more open in discussing the rape with them (M = 4.90) than did subjects in the MNRV group ( M s = 2.56 and 3.50, respectively); subjects in the FNRV group had ratings on these items that fell between and were not significantly different from the ratings of the other two groups ( M s = 2.03 and 4.17, respectively), F(2, 131) = 3.56 and 3.57, respectively, p s < .05. Subjects in the FRV group also rated themselves as significantly more similar to the rape victim whom they knew (M = 5.00) than did those in the MNRV (M = 3.02) and FNRV (M = 3.50) groups; the means for the last two groups did not differ significantly from one another, F(2, 131) = 7.53, p < .001. In sum, an individual’s perception of an actual rape victim was found to be influenced by the individual’s gender and personal experience with rape. Men’s perceptions were found to differ, not from those of female subjects in general, but from those of women who identified themselves as victims of rape. Male and female subjects who had not been raped reported levels of perceived similarity to a known rape victim that were comparable between them but were significantly lower than the level reported by the FRV subjects. Because the reactions of friends and family members can play an important role in a woman’s adjustment to the trauma of rape, future research should continue to assess the perceptions and reactions of individuals to known rape victims. REFERENCES
Barnett, M . A., Tetreault, P. A . , & Masbad, I. (1987). Empathy with a rape victim: The role of similarity of experience. Violence and Victims, 2 , 255-262. Deitz, S. R., Littman, M . , & Bentley, B. J. (1984). Attributions of responsibility for rape: The influence of observer empathy, victim resistance, and victim attractiveness. Sex Roles, 10, 261-280.
Barnett, Sinisi, & Quackenbush
141
Tetreault, P. A., & Lowman, R. P. (1987, August). Attributions of responsibifio in reports of stranger rape. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, New York. Thornton, B., Ryckman, R. M., & Robbins, M. A. (1982). The relationships of observer characteristics to beliefs in the causal responsibility of victims of sexual assault. Human Relations, 35,321-330. Wyer, R. S., Bodenhausen, G. V., & Gorman, T. F. (1985). Cognitive mediators of reactions to rape. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 48, 324-338.
Downloaded by [Central Michigan University] at 10:55 01 January 2015
Received March 9. 1990
The Journal of Social Psychology Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vsoc20
Perceptions of a Known Rape Victim: Role of Subject's Gender and Personal Experience with Rape a
a
Mark A. Barnett , Christina S. Sinisi & Steven W. Quackenbush
a
a
Department of Psychology , Kansas State University , USA Published online: 30 Jun 2010.
To cite this article: Mark A. Barnett , Christina S. Sinisi & Steven W. Quackenbush (1991) Perceptions of a Known Rape Victim: Role of Subject's Gender and Personal Experience with Rape, The Journal of Social Psychology, 131:1, 139-141, DOI: 10.1080/00224545.1991.9713834 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224545.1991.9713834
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or
indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content.
Downloaded by [Central Michigan University] at 10:55 01 January 2015
This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
The Journal of Social Psychology. 131(1), 139-141
Downloaded by [Central Michigan University] at 10:55 01 January 2015
Perceptions of a Known Rape Victim: Role of Subject’s Gender and Personal Experience With Rape MARK A. BARNETT CHRISTINA S. SINISI STEVEN W. QUACKENBUSH Department of Psychology Kansas State University
NUMEROUS FACTORS have been found to influence an individual’s response to victims of rape, including the individual’s gender and personal experience with rape. For example, female subjects in the United States typically have been found to attribute less blame or responsibility to a victim of rape than do their male counterparts (Dietz, Littman, & Bentley, 1984; Tetreault & Lowman, 1987; Thornton. Ryckman, & Robbins, 1982; Wyer, Bodenhausen, & Gorman, 1985). Among female subjects, moreover, those who have experienced rape have been found to respond more empathically to a victim than do those who have not had such an experience (Barnett, Tetreault, & Masbad, 1987). Prior research on reactions to rape victims has typically asked subjects to consider a hypothetical victim described in an impersonal manner cnd hence has failed to address their perceptions of actual victims whom they know. The purpose of the present study was to determine the extent to which an individual’s perception of a known rape victim is influenced by the individual’s gender and personal experience with rape. As a part of a larger investigation, 298 American undergraduates (165 women, 133 men) completed a rape experience questionnaire on which they were asked (a) if they had ever been raped and (b) if they knew a victim of rape. Subjects who indicated that they did know a rape victim were asked various questions concerning their perceptions of the victim.
~
~
Reques:. for reprints should be sent to Mark A. Barnett, Department of Psychology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506. I39
Downloaded by [Central Michigan University] at 10:55 01 January 2015
140
The Journal of Social Psychology
In response to the questionnaire, 82 of the women (49.7%) and 53 of the men (39.9%) indicated that they knew a victim. Of the 82 women who knew one, 20 indicated also that they themselves had been a victim of rape (an additional 9 women who did not report knowing a victim identified themselves as victims). One of the 53 men who indicated that he knew a victim also identified himself as a victim of rape; his responses were excluded from the group comparisons. Responses to the 7-point rating scales on the rape experience questionnaire were analyzed in separate one-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) that compared the three subject groups who knew a rape victim: 20 female subjects who identified themselves as rape victims (FRV), 62 female subjects who did not identify themselves as rape victims (FNRV), and 52 male subjects who did not identify themselves as rape victims (MNRV). Those in the FRV group rated the rape victim whom they knew as having done less to contribute to the rape (M = 1.50) and having been more open in discussing the rape with them (M = 4.90) than did subjects in the MNRV group ( M s = 2.56 and 3.50, respectively); subjects in the FNRV group had ratings on these items that fell between and were not significantly different from the ratings of the other two groups ( M s = 2.03 and 4.17, respectively), F(2, 131) = 3.56 and 3.57, respectively, p s < .05. Subjects in the FRV group also rated themselves as significantly more similar to the rape victim whom they knew (M = 5.00) than did those in the MNRV (M = 3.02) and FNRV (M = 3.50) groups; the means for the last two groups did not differ significantly from one another, F(2, 131) = 7.53, p < .001. In sum, an individual’s perception of an actual rape victim was found to be influenced by the individual’s gender and personal experience with rape. Men’s perceptions were found to differ, not from those of female subjects in general, but from those of women who identified themselves as victims of rape. Male and female subjects who had not been raped reported levels of perceived similarity to a known rape victim that were comparable between them but were significantly lower than the level reported by the FRV subjects. Because the reactions of friends and family members can play an important role in a woman’s adjustment to the trauma of rape, future research should continue to assess the perceptions and reactions of individuals to known rape victims. REFERENCES
Barnett, M . A., Tetreault, P. A . , & Masbad, I. (1987). Empathy with a rape victim: The role of similarity of experience. Violence and Victims, 2 , 255-262. Deitz, S. R., Littman, M . , & Bentley, B. J. (1984). Attributions of responsibility for rape: The influence of observer empathy, victim resistance, and victim attractiveness. Sex Roles, 10, 261-280.
Barnett, Sinisi, & Quackenbush
141
Tetreault, P. A., & Lowman, R. P. (1987, August). Attributions of responsibifio in reports of stranger rape. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, New York. Thornton, B., Ryckman, R. M., & Robbins, M. A. (1982). The relationships of observer characteristics to beliefs in the causal responsibility of victims of sexual assault. Human Relations, 35,321-330. Wyer, R. S., Bodenhausen, G. V., & Gorman, T. F. (1985). Cognitive mediators of reactions to rape. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 48, 324-338.
Downloaded by [Central Michigan University] at 10:55 01 January 2015
Received March 9. 1990
