Binghamton Research Days Student Presentations
Jules_Bridget.pdfAttitudes Towards Sexual Assault: The Influence of Athletic Background and Media Portrayal on Perceptions of Rape
Attitudes Towards Sexual Assault: The Influence of Athletic Background and Media Portrayal on Perceptions of Rape
Bridget Jules (Senior, Psychology)
Bridget Jules (Senior, Psychology)
Mentors: Richard Mattson, Psychology; Ann Merriwether, Psychology; Sean Massey, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Mentors: Richard Mattson, Psychology; Ann Merriwether, Psychology; Sean Massey, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Abstract
Societal attitudes towards athletes may influence media depictions of sexual assault perpetrators and individuals' responses to these portrayals, which can thereby shape reactions and outcomes affecting perpetrators and victims. This study presented participants (N=616) with actual news articles depicting sexual assaults committed by athlete and non-athlete perpetrators. Articles were reliably coded for various characteristics. Analyses indicated that athlete perpetrators were characterized more positively than non-athletes. Analyses indicated that characteristics of the participant were more relevant to shaping attitudes than article-level factors, with attributes including sports fanaticism and beliefs about rape predicted how blame was apportioned to victims versus perpetrators.
Abstract
Societal attitudes towards athletes may influence media depictions of sexual assault perpetrators and individuals' responses to these portrayals, which can thereby shape reactions and outcomes affecting perpetrators and victims. This study presented participants (N=616) with actual news articles depicting sexual assaults committed by athlete and non-athlete perpetrators. Articles were reliably coded for various characteristics. Analyses indicated that athlete perpetrators were characterized more positively than non-athletes. Analyses indicated that characteristics of the participant were more relevant to shaping attitudes than article-level factors, with attributes including sports fanaticism and beliefs about rape predicted how blame was apportioned to victims versus perpetrators.