Exploring the origins of blame: The role of empathy and gender role conformity in blaming victims of sexual assault.
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1
Department of Psychological Science, School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Australia
Aim: Sexual assault cases are chronically under-reported. One factor thought to contribute to lack of reporting is victim blaming. Victim blaming is said to arise from gender inequality and toxic masculine stereotypes. Although there has been some research examining levels of empathy in police officers and sexual offenders, little has been reported on general empathy in relation to victim blaming. The aim of this study was to examine gender role adherence and empathy as predictors of victim blaming. Methods: Respondents (N = 553; female = 438; age: M = 32.97, SD = 12.32) completed an online survey comprising the Australian Sex Role inventory; the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire; and the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance scale – updated, along with demographic questions. Results: Linear regressions confirmed that scores on empathy, F(1,526) = 81.67, p <0.001, and gender role conformity, F(2,510) = 5.84, p = 0.003, each significantly predicted the tendency toward victim blaming. Respondents who scored lower on empathy were more likely to endorse rape myths assigning culpability to victims of sexual assault. Post hoc analysis on gender role conformity revealed that it was respondents’ degree of adherence to stereotypically masculine traits that predicted attitudes aligned with victim blaming. Conclusion: These findings confirm that victim blaming is associated with gender role conformity in an Australian sample. Further, by establishing a role for general empathy in predicting victim blaming, we may inform future approaches to addressing rape myth acceptance.
Keywords:
victim blaming,
Gender stereotypes,
Empathy,
Sexual assualt,
rape myth
Conference:
15th Annual Psychology Honours Research Conference , Coffs Harbour, Australia, 4 Oct - 5 Oct, 2018.
Presentation Type:
Research
Topic:
Abstract for 15th Annual Psychology Honours Research Conference
Citation:
Attreed
K and
Kozlowski
D
(2019). Exploring the origins of blame: The role of empathy and gender role conformity in blaming victims of sexual assault..
Front. Psychol.
Conference Abstract:
15th Annual Psychology Honours Research Conference .
doi: 10.3389/conf.fpsyg.2018.74.00021
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Received:
18 Sep 2018;
Published Online:
27 Sep 2019.
*
Correspondence:
Miss. Kaitlyn Attreed, Department of Psychological Science, School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, Australia, k.attreed.21@student.scu.edu.au