Citation

Davies M, Rogers P. J. Child Sex. Abus. 2009; 18(1): 78-92.

Affiliation

University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10538710802584668

PMID

19197616

Abstract

This study investigated victim culpability, credibility, and assault severity in a hypothetical sexual abuse case. A 2 (respondent gender) x 3 (victim age) x 3 (perpetrator type) between-subjects design was employed. Members (391) of the U.K. general public read the depiction of a female child assaulted by an adult male perpetrator. Respondents then completed an attributions questionnaire. Findings showed that male respondents were less positive toward victims and considered the victim less credible than female respondents. Younger victims (aged five years) were considered more credible than older children (aged 15 years). Victims of strangers were considered more positively and more credible than victims of someone known to them (their father or a family friend). Suggestions for future work are proposed.

Language: en