When sexual assaults occur, individuals who learn of the event may develop victim-blaming attitudes in which they attribute more guilt to the survivor than the perpetrator (Kelley, 1967). Previous research shows that complex factors like race, attitudes about rape, and endorsement of sexual stereotypes, contribute to the extent to which these attitudes are developed (George & Martinez, 2002). We build upon previous research on victim-blaming in response to an acquaintance-rape scenario, demonstrating the potential influence of race, sexual stereotype endorsement, and rape-myth acceptance. This study evaluates if there is a significant interaction between race, sexual-stereotype endorsement, and rape-myth acceptance on victim-blaming attitudes of Black men and women. Participants read a piloted vignette which depicts an acquaintance rape with a (Black or White) male perpetrator and a (Black or White) female victim. After reading the vignette, each participant’s rape-myth acceptance, sexual-stereotype endorsement, and victim-blaming attitudes are assessed. We hypothesized that not only will the race of the perpetrator and the victim affect victim-blaming, but further, participant’s sexual-stereotype endorsement and rape-myth acceptance will account for a significant portion of the variance in victim-blaming. The results and implications of the study will be discussed.
