EXPLAINING RAPE VICTIM BLAME - A TEST OF ATTRIBUTION THEORY

Rape victim-blaming attitudes are examined with data from a probabilit y sample of students at a southern university (male, n = 511; female, n = 666). Hypotheses derived from two competing versions of attributio n theory, ''defensive attribution'' and ''need for control,'' are test ed to examine the effects of gender, past female sexual victimization, past male sexual aggression, nonsexual crime victimization, and risk taking on rape myth acceptance. The results show that: (1) Females are substantially less likely to blame rape victims; (2) For the female s ubsample, risk taking and rape victim blame are negatively associated; (3) Among males, past sexual aggression and risk taking are positivel y related to victim blaming; and (4) Male experience with nonsexual vi ctimization is negatively related to victim blaming. Each version of a ttribution theory is partially confirmed by the findings. Nationality, race/ethnicity, class standing, and rape prevention knowledge also in fluence victim blaming attitudes.