Article Version of Record

Rape crimes reviewed: The role of observer variables in female victim blaming

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Ferrão, Maria Clara
Gonçalves, Gabriela

Abstract / Description

This article presents an overview of empirical research on the role of observer variables in rape victim blaming (female attacked by a male perpetrator). The focus is on literature from the last 15 years. The variables observer gender, ambivalent sexism, rape myth acceptance, and rape empathy are discussed in relation to victim blaming. Most research on rape is conducted using diverse methods and approaches that result in a great disparity regarding the role of these variables in predicting blame assignments. Despite the inconsistencies, most studies show that men hold the victim more responsible for her own victimization than women. Findings further indicate that higher scores on sexist ideologies and rape myth acceptance predict higher victim blame, and that higher rape empathy scores predict lower victim blame. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Keyword(s)

rape victim blaming observer gender ambivalent sexism rape myths empathy

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2015-04-30

Journal title

Psychological Thought

Volume

8

Issue

1

Page numbers

47–67

Publisher

PsychOpen GOLD

Publication status

publishedVersion

Review status

peerReviewed

Is version of

Citation

Ferrão, M. C., & Gonçalves, G. (2015). Rape crimes reviewed: The role of observer variables in female victim blaming. Psychological Thought, 8(1), 47–67. https://doi.org/10.5964/psyct.v8i1.131
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Ferrão, Maria Clara
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Gonçalves, Gabriela
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2018-11-28T10:02:05Z
  • Made available on
    2018-11-28T10:02:05Z
  • Date of first publication
    2015-04-30
  • Abstract / Description
    This article presents an overview of empirical research on the role of observer variables in rape victim blaming (female attacked by a male perpetrator). The focus is on literature from the last 15 years. The variables observer gender, ambivalent sexism, rape myth acceptance, and rape empathy are discussed in relation to victim blaming. Most research on rape is conducted using diverse methods and approaches that result in a great disparity regarding the role of these variables in predicting blame assignments. Despite the inconsistencies, most studies show that men hold the victim more responsible for her own victimization than women. Findings further indicate that higher scores on sexist ideologies and rape myth acceptance predict higher victim blame, and that higher rape empathy scores predict lower victim blame. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • Citation
    Ferrão, M. C., & Gonçalves, G. (2015). Rape crimes reviewed: The role of observer variables in female victim blaming. Psychological Thought, 8(1), 47–67. https://doi.org/10.5964/psyct.v8i1.131
    en_US
  • ISSN
    2193-7281
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1599
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1965
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychOpen GOLD
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/psyct.v8i1.131
  • Keyword(s)
    rape
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    victim blaming
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    observer gender
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    ambivalent sexism
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    rape myths
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    empathy
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Rape crimes reviewed: The role of observer variables in female victim blaming
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    1
  • Journal title
    Psychological Thought
  • Page numbers
    47–67
  • Volume
    8
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record