An experimental examination of alcohol consumption, alcohol expectancy, and self-blame on willingness to report a hypothetical rape.

Heather D Flowe,John Maltby

doi:10.1002/ab.21745

Abstract

This study experimentally examined the role of victim alcohol intoxication, and self‐blame in perceiving and reporting rape to the police using a hypothetical interactive rape scenario. Participants (N = 79) were randomly assigned to consume alcohol (mean BAC = 0.07%) or tonic water before they engaged in the scenario. Alcohol expectancy was manipulated, and participant beliefs about the beverage they thought they had consumed and their feelings of intoxication were measured. Alcohol consumption and expectancy did not affect the likelihood that the nonconsensual intercourse depicted in the scenario was perceived and would be reported as rape. Participants with higher levels of self‐blame were less likely to say they would report the hypothetical rape. Self‐blame levels were higher for participants who believed they had consumed alcohol, and were associated with increased feelings of intoxication. The implications are discussed.

Highlights

Studies find that between 30% and 74% of sexual violence victims were alcohol-intoxicated during the crime (e.g., Abbey, 2002; Horvarth & Brown, 2006; Koss & Dinero, 1989; Palmer, Flowe, Takarangi, & Humphries, 2013; Testa & Livingston, 2000)
Women who believed that they had consumed alcohol rather than to tonic water blamed themselves more for the rape, and women were more likely to blame themselves for the assault the more intoxicated they felt
It is concerning that women in the current study were more likely to blame the hypothetical rape on their behavior and character if they believed that they had consumed alcohol

Summary

| INTRODUCTION

Studies find that between 30% and 74% of sexual violence victims were alcohol-intoxicated during the crime (e.g., Abbey, 2002; Horvarth & Brown, 2006; Koss & Dinero, 1989; Palmer, Flowe, Takarangi, & Humphries, 2013; Testa & Livingston, 2000). Previous research investigating the link between alcohol and victim reactions to rape has relied on asking women to retrospectively report about their past experiences This type of research is valuable because it allows for examining the role of alcohol intoxication in the context of actual cases, and across a range of real world circumstances. We predicted on the basis of past research that women who consumed or who expected to consume alcohol would 1) be less likely to perceive the non-consensual sexual intercourse depicted in the scenario as rape, 2) be less likely to report it to the police as rape, and 3) report higher levels of self-blame for the attack

| Participants

| Design

| RESULTS

Rape consensual

Findings

| DISCUSSION