Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Violence and Victims |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 18 Jul 2019 |
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An experimental investigation of the perceived credibility of complainants of sexual revictimization : Disbelief and victim-blame. / Wager, Nadia.
In: Violence and Victims, 18.07.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - An experimental investigation of the perceived credibility of complainants of sexual revictimization
T2 - Disbelief and victim-blame
AU - Wager, Nadia
PY - 2019/7/18
Y1 - 2019/7/18
N2 - This study investigated whether attitudes towards a complainant of sexual assault are affected by the knowledge that the complainant had previously made a similar allegation. This was a 3 (previous allegation; none, child sexual assault or adult sexual assault) X 2 (whether the previous allegation was substantiated) X 2 (the implied mental health status of the complainant; mental health issue vs none) multifactorial, experimental study, employing independent-measures and hypothetical vignettes depicting stranger rape scenarios. The dependent variables were victim-blame and believability. The participants were 243 female undergraduate students. A MANOVA revealed several main and interactive effects. Allegations of sexual revictimization were associated with different levels of victim-blame and believability depending on when the previous assault occurred. A history of childhood sexual assault reduced the believability of the complainant and when combined with other factors increased the tendency to attribute victim-blame.
AB - This study investigated whether attitudes towards a complainant of sexual assault are affected by the knowledge that the complainant had previously made a similar allegation. This was a 3 (previous allegation; none, child sexual assault or adult sexual assault) X 2 (whether the previous allegation was substantiated) X 2 (the implied mental health status of the complainant; mental health issue vs none) multifactorial, experimental study, employing independent-measures and hypothetical vignettes depicting stranger rape scenarios. The dependent variables were victim-blame and believability. The participants were 243 female undergraduate students. A MANOVA revealed several main and interactive effects. Allegations of sexual revictimization were associated with different levels of victim-blame and believability depending on when the previous assault occurred. A history of childhood sexual assault reduced the believability of the complainant and when combined with other factors increased the tendency to attribute victim-blame.
KW - rape complainant
KW - sexual revictimization
KW - child sexual assault
KW - victim-blame
KW - false allegation
M3 - Article
JO - Violence and Victims
JF - Violence and Victims
SN - 0886-6708
ER -