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Summary
Women facing sexual assault often choose less active responses and prefer humane treatment for convicted rapists. Personality traits had minimal impact on these attitudes toward rape.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Criminology
- Gender Studies
Background:
- Sexual assault remains a significant societal issue.
- Understanding victim responses and societal attitudes towards perpetrators is crucial.
- Limited research explores the influence of personality on rape-related attitudes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess women's attitudes towards responses to attempted sexual assault.
- To determine beliefs about societal handling of convicted rapists.
- To investigate the role of assertiveness and internal-external expectancy in shaping rape attitudes.
Main Methods:
- Administered the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule, Rotter I-E Scale, and a Rape Inventory.
- Surveyed 77 women and 25 men from diverse backgrounds.
- Analyzed personality dimensions and their correlation with attitudes.
Main Results:
- Women favored a limited range of responses to sexual assault, predominantly less active modes.
- Participants advocated for humane treatment of convicted rapists.
- Assertiveness and internal-external expectancy played a minor role in shaping attitudes.
Conclusions:
- Women's responses to sexual assault are often passive.
- Societal views on convicted rapists lean towards humane approaches.
- Personality traits have a limited influence on attitudes concerning sexual assault and its aftermath.