RAPE AND ACCIDENT COUNTERFACTUALS - WHO MIGHT HAVE DONE OTHERWISE ANDWOULD IT HAVE CHANGED THE OUTCOME

Four experiments assessed the blame assigned to the two persons involv ed in a rape or an auto accident. After reading a description of one o f the events, participants were asked to generate different types of c ounterfactuals in 2 of the studies, and in the other 2 they viewed a v ideotape of an attorney who suggested to them a specific counterfactua l. In the rape context, when changes to the victim's behavior produced a new outcome, blame to the victim was highest and rapist blame was l owest. Counterfactuals where changes in the victim's behaviors did not undo the event resulted in the highest assailant blame and the least victim blame. When the event was an auto accident, blame increased for whichever driver's actions were mentally undone. Wow attorneys can in crease or decrease the blame assigned to their clients depending on th e type of counterfactual that they present is discussed.