ATTRIBUTIONS ABOUT ACQUAINTANCE RAPE - THE ROLE OF ALCOHOL AND INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES

Reactions to an acquaintance rape scenario were examined for effects o f respondent gender and portrayals of different levels of alcohol into xication on attributions of responsibility and blame. Comparisons of c onditions in which both victim and perpetrator were described as exper iencing equivalent levels of intoxication revealed that participants r ated the victim as more, but the perpetrator as less, responsible and blameworthy after consuming alcohol - particularly when drinking was a ccompanied by clear signs of behavioral impairment. In contrast, when the victim was more intoxicated and impaired than her assailant, intox ication of the perpetrator did not serve to excuse his behavior, but a ctually incriminated him more. Women generally assigned more blame to the victim. Individual differences in rape myth acceptance also influe nced attributions.