First Name:
Alexis
Last Name:
Lefkowitz
Major Department:
Psychology
Thesis Director:
Twila Wingrove
Date of Thesis:
May 2014
This research is focused on how relationship, violence, alcohol, and dress play a role when a jury is assessing a rape case. I manipulated the relationship of the victim and the perpetrator, whether they were strangers or acquaintances, because research shows that a jury will attribute more blame to a victim if they knew the perpetrator (Wenger & Bornstein, 2006). Level of violence was manipulated: whether there is a threat of violence or physical violence. Alcohol will play a role of whether the victim was intoxicated or not and whether the victim was dressed provocatively or neutral. Overall, the hypothesis is that participants will place more blame on the victim if the perpetrator was an acquaintance, there was only a threat of violence, and if the victim was drinking or dressed provocatively. Results showed that alcohol was the main variable that contributed to victim blame. Dress and relationship also played a role showing a significant interaction for victim blame and victim guilt. Keywords: rape, victim blaming, courtroom, alcohol, violence, jury