Men lack sympathy for rape victims

Men blame male victims of rape for not fighting off their attacker.

This is one of the findings of Dr Michelle Davies and Dr Paul Rogers from University of Central Lancashire who will present their research at the British Psychological Society’s Division of Forensic Psychology Annual Conference today, Wednesday 24th June 2009. The conference is being held the University of Central Lancashire, Preston.

This study focussed on attitudes of blame towards rape victims in different scenarios, including drug-assisted-rape.

301 participants (150 men and 151 women, with an average age 23) read a scenario in which victim gender, sexuality, and whether the victim was awake or asleep at the time of the assault were manipulated. They were than asked to complete a questionnaire on blame.

The results showed that men had less sympathy for rape victims overall and tended to blame the victim more than women did. In particular men were blamed for not fighting back.

The men questioned in the study classed assaults on gay men as the least serious especially if the victim was conscious.

Dr Davies commented: ‘Rape is a heinous crime and the process of gaining a conviction can be almost as traumatic. Knowing certain victims in certain situations are blamed more than others gives those involved in treating victims a "head start" in knowing what types of reactions victims might face.’

The conference is being held at the University of Central Lancashire from the 23rd to 25th July. The full programme is available on the Society’s website /DFP2009

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Media Centre on 0116 2529500 or email mediacentre@bps.org.uk