Victim attributions and post-rape trauma

Bibliographic Data

ID6205867
AuthorsPatricia A Frazier (0000-0001-6345-8578, University of Missouri, corresponding author)
Year1990
Volume59
Issue2
Pages298-304
Publication date1990-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Personality and Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3514 • E-ISSN: 1939-1315
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037//0022-3514.59.2.298
PMID2213494
OpenAlexW4250758332
LanguageEN
Citations received59
References cited10

This study assessed (a) the kinds of attributions victims make, (b) whether behavioral and characterological self-blame are associated with other variables as hypothesized (e.g., perception of future avoidability of being raped), and (c) whether behavioral self-blame is associated with better post-rape adjustment (Janoff-Bulman, 1979). Attributions and adjustment were assessed in a sample of adult female rape victims seen at a hospital-based rape crisis program. Many victims blamed themselves but tended to place more blame on external factors. The pattern of relations between behavioral and characterological self-blame and other attributional measures did not support the hypothesized distinctions between them. Both kinds of self-blame were significantly associated with increased post-rape depression (all ps less than .05). Attributions strongly predicted adjustment, accounting for up to 67% of the variance in 3-day post-rape depression. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed

Attribution · Blame · Depression (economics) · Developmental psychology · Medical emergency · Perception · Poison control · Social perception · Child Abuse and Trauma · Clinical Psychology · Personality Traits and Psychology · Psychology · Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies · Social Psychology