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Lack of Victim Responsibility as a Factor in Defining Rape

NCJ Number
75236
Author(s)
A M Orzek
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Lack of responsibility on the part of the victim was studied as a necessary component in determining whether a situation was defined as rape.
Abstract
A total of 15 situations were presented to 200 students in upper level psychology courses at Southwest Missouri State University. The students were asked to determine whether each situation constituted rape. If so, students were asked to indicate, on a seven-point scale, the level of responsibility of the victim. A Pearson 'r' was performed correlating the number of situations defined as rape and the number of situations where the victim had no responsibility. Significance was found for the entire sample. This would support the hypothesis that the individual who defines a situation as rape is more likely to see the victim as not responsible. The scores from the BSRI were correlated with the degree of responsibility when responsibility was determined (r/r). As sex role orientation of males became more feminine, r/r decreased. Twelve references, 1 footnote, and 1 table are given. (ERIC abstract modified)

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