GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ATTRIBUTIONS OF BLAME FOR MALE RAPE VICTIMS

Past research on blaming the victim has virtually ignored male victimi zation while concentrating on the female victim. The purpose of the pr esent study was to investigate whether or not gender differences exist in blaming a male rape victim and whether or not any theories of vict im blame could be applied to this domain. Subjects were given the Beli ef in a Just World Scale, an intervening cognitive task, and a scenari o describing a young man who was arrested outside of a bar where a fig ht occurred and who was later raped in a police holding cell. The mani pulation consisted of whether or not the man had a previous arrest rec ord. Subjects were then given a questionnaire assessing victim blame. Results showed males blamed the victim more than females and that the prior arrest victim was held more responsible than was the no-prior-ar rest victim. The present findings are consistent with Lerner's belief in a just world theory.