Factors Impacting Undergraduate Students’ Views of Victim and Perpetrator Culpability

• In Event: Victim blaming based on myths about rape and sexual assault

Abstract

Victim-blaming has been a prominent topic in victimological literature. In this study, researchers surveyed 300 undergraduate college students at a public university in the eastern United States. Each survey contained one of four versions of a vignette about a criminal victimization incident, altering the gender of the victim and situational characteristics. Researchers examined the role of respondent demographics, respondent victimization experiences, hypothetical victim characteristics, and situational variables on the attribution of blame. A comparison of victim and perpetrator blaming is presented. In addition, respondents’ justifications for victim blaming are discussed.

Authors

• Mary Brewster, West Chester University

• Edward W. Bruton, West Chester University

• Arielle N. Simmons, West Chester University