Attitudes Toward Male and Female Victims of Sexual Assault

Abstract

Although there is evidence that men and women respond similarly to the trauma of sexual assault, observers are likely to make differential judgments of psychological sequelae based on the sex of the victim. A sample of 180 undergraduates responded to hypothetical assault vignettes varying by victim sex and level of victim-attacker acquaintance to assess any such attributional differences. Results revealed that although participants were equally empathic to male and female victims, female victims were perceived as more trusting and attributed with more responsibility for not having foreseen the attack and men were blamed more for not physically repelling the attackers. Authoritarianism and just world scores were found to be poor predictors of attitudes toward victims. Responses to categorical questions qualified by comments indicated that although same-sex counselors were perceived as mandatory for female victimes, the need for such matching was less important for male victimes. Results are discussed in terms of attitudinal change over time, residual rape-related mythology, and implications for services to the male victim.

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