title: There are no "innocent victims": the influence of just world beliefs and prior victimization on rape myth acceptance.
abstract: Utilizing data from an online survey of 979 university students, this study explores the relationship between prior sexual assault victimization experiences, belief in a just world, and acceptance of rape myths. Results indicated that men, younger respondents, and those with less education were more likely to support rape myths. Support for just world beliefs and rape myths were also positively associated, while rape victims exhibited less support for rape myths than non-victims. Implications for future studies are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA rvond001@odu.edu.
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Vonderhaar
authors.affiliation: Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Dianne Cyr
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Carmody
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D019548:Crime Victims; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011902:Rape; D012935:Social Justice; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: just world beliefs; rape myths; sexual assault; victimization