STUDY SUBJECTS (112 FEMALE AND 99 MALE UNDERGRADUATES) LISTENED TO TAPES OF A PURPORTED FEMALE VICTIM DESCRIBING A CRIME (EITHER A RAPE OR A MUGGING). SEVERITY OF CRIME WAS MANIPULATED BY THE VICTIM'S DESCRIBING SOME CRIMES AS MORE BRUTAL OR SUCCESSFUL THAN OTHERS. PRIOR TO LISTENING TO THE TAPES, SUBJECTS IN THE SECOND STUDY COMPLETED A QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGNED TO MEASURE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY PERCEIVED THEMSELVES AS POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF A MUGGING OR RAPE. ALL SUBJECTS, AFTER LISTENING TO THE TAPES, ANSWERED QUESTIONS CONCERNING THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT THE CRIME, THE VICTIM, AND THE ATTACKER. THERE WAS A GENERAL TENDENCY TOWARD A SYMPATHETIC REACTION PATTERN: THE MORE SEVERE THE CRIME, THE LESS RESPONSIBILITY ASSIGNED TO THE VICTIM. THIS EFFECT WAS STRONGEST AMONG SUBJECTS WHO BELIEVED THEY HAD LITTLE LIKELIHOOD OF ENCOUNTERING A FATE SIMILAR TO THE VICTIM'S. SUBJECTS WHO BELIEVED THEY WERE LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER A FATE SIMILAR TO THE VICTIM'S TENDED TO MAKE DEFENSIVE ATTRIBUTIONS; I.E., TO ATTRIBUTE CHARACTERISTICS TO THE VICTIM THAT WOULD PRECLUDE THEIR OWN VICTIMIZATION. THE DATA SUGGEST THAT, IN THE ABSENCE OF A NEED TO REACT DEFENSIVELY, PEOPLE REACT SYMPATHETICALLY TO VICTIMS OF CRIME. THE FINDINGS HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR JUROR ATTRIBUTION OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR CRIMES. SUPPORTING DATA ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)