Personality Traits, Rape Myths Acceptance, and Bystander Intervention in Ivory Coast

• In Event: Bystander Intervention and Reporting of Crime to Police

Abstract

The present study attempts to understand factors that influence bystanders’ decisions to intervene in risky sexual situations in Ivory Coast. The study aimed to achieve the following objectives. First, examine the influence of personality traits, history of sexual violence victimization, sense of community, and rape myths acceptance on bystander intervention among college students. Second, determine the direct effect of willingness to intervene on actual intervention.
Two hundred college students from one of the major cities in Ivory Coast were invited to participate in the study through a convenience sampling approach. Using an SEM framework, our analysis revealed that extroversion personality traits, prior sexual assault experience, and a greater sense of community promote willingness to intervene Whereas rape myths acceptance undermines willingness to intervene. Moreover, we found that students’ willingness to intervene translates to their actual intervention. Policy implications of the findings are discussed.

Authors

• Francis Boateng, University of Mississippi

• Michael K. Dzordzormenyoh, Kent State University

• Nabi Y. Doumbia, University Félix Houphouet-Boigny

• Godwin Egbe, University of Mississippi