Optimistic bias, sexual assault, and fear.
A survey of 431 adults documents optimistic bias regarding people's perceived risk of sexual victimization. The findings extend optimistic bias to crime victimization and contribute to the literature by considering a motivational factor, fear, as a predictor of optimistic bias. The study also yielded significant relationships between optimistic bias and demographic variables, including age, gender, and family structure.
a Pennsylvania State University , Beaver.
John R
JR
Chapin
Mari
M
Pierce
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology*; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
optimistic bias; risk perception; sexual abuse