Gender differences in attitudes toward and attributions of responsibility in date and acquaintance rape.

摘要

This study used the Rape Supportive Beliefs Scales (Burt, 1980), and the Rape Responsibility Questionnaire (Deitz & Byrnes, 1981), to assess gender differences in attitudes toward and attributions of responsibility in date and acquaintance rape. The purpose of this investigation was to measure the prevalence of date and acquaintance rape at a coeducational non-residential northeastern university campus, determine whether this group of men and women differ in their attitudes towards and their attribution of responsibility in date and acquaintance rape scenarios, and investigate whether a program developed at a non-residential university to challenge rape myths is effective in changing male and female students' attitudes towards and attribution of responsibility in date and acquaintance rape.;Data were collected from a sample of 53 college students who attended a small private college in the northeast part of the United States. The data were collected during the Spring semester 1994. The indicence rates were determined using the Sexual Experiences Survey (Koss & Oros, 1982).;The results of this study showed several significant differences. The treatment program was effective in reducing men's and women's adherence to traditional sex role stereotypes, reducing victim responsibility, and increasing rapist responsibility. Women held the rapist significantly less responsible for the rape than the men. The women also believed that rape was a less serious crime than the men. The discussion-only group format was the most successful in terms of group interaction and the ability to change attitudes. There were no significant gender differences on rape myth acceptance. Fifty percent of the women in this study acknowledged some form of sexual victimization while thirty-five percent of the men admitted some form of sexual perpetration.