Attributions of responsibility in a child sexual abuse (CSA) vignette among respondents with CSA histories: the role of abuse similarity to a hypothetical victim.
Previous research suggests that similarity to a victim may influence attributions of responsibility in hypothetical child sexual abuse scenarios. One aspect of similarity receiving mixed support in the literature is respondent child sexual abuse history. Using a sample of 1,345 college women, the present study examined child sexual abuse history, similarity to victim, and attributions of responsibility to a hypothetical victim, family member, and perpetrator in a child sexual abuse vignette. Results revealed no group differences in responsibility ratings among respondents with and without child sexual abuse histories. However, among the 133 respondents with child sexual abuse histories, results indicated that similarity to victim moderated the relationship between vignette characteristics, respondent history, and responsibility attributions. Results suggest that similarity to a victim may influence ratings in a self-preserving manner.
Harding
Hilary G
HG
University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA. hharding@uga.edu
Zinzow
Heidi M
HM
Burns
Erin E
EE
Jackson
Joan L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D012933:Social Identification; D012938:Social Perception; D012941:Social Responsibility; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires