Perceptions of stranger and acquaintance rape: the role of benevolent and hostile sexism in victim blame and rape proclivity.
In Studies 1 and 2, after reading an acquaintance-rape but not a stranger-rape scenario, higher benevolent sexist but not hostile sexist participants blamed the victim significantly more. In Study 2, higher hostile sexist but not benevolent sexist male participants showed significantly greater proclivity to commit acquaintance (but not stranger) rape. Studies 3 and 4 supported the hypothesis that the effects of benevolent sexism and hostile sexism are mediated by different perceptions of the victim, as behaving inappropriately and as really wanting sex with the rapist. These findings show that benevolent sexism and hostile sexism underpin different assumptions about women that generate sexist reactions toward rape victims.
Abrams
Dominic
D
Department of Psychology, Centre for the Study of Group Processes, University of Kent, Canterbury, England. d.abrams@ukc.ac.uk
Viki
G Tendayi
GT
Masser
Barbara
B
Bohner
Gerd
G
D000328:Adult; D019548:Crime Victims; D005260:Female; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D011897:Random Allocation; D011902:Rape; D012938:Social Perception