THEORIES OF RAPE AND THE JUST WORLD

The aim of the present study was firstly to investigate attributions o f fault (cause, blame and responsibility) to a rape victim, and in the second study to examine causal explanations for rape as a function of belief in a Just World. It was predicted from the first vignette stud y that males would attribute more fault to the rape victim than female s, and that the victim's race, dress and resistance would affect the a ttribution of fault. Sex of respondent and victim dress were found to be strong determinants of attribution about rape. In the second part o f the study Just World Beliefs were related to 20 theories about the c auses of rape. Partial support was found for the prediction that belie f in a lust World would affect explanations for rape. Results are disc ussed in terms of attributional studies on the perceived causes of inj ustice.