Attitudes toward Rape

Abstract

In comparing attitudes toward rape in India and in the United States, it was predicted that: (1) because of the importance of female chastity in Indian society, information about victim chastity would influence judgments about rape more in India than in the United States, and (2) because of cultural differences in concepts of individual self-determination, Indian respondents would blame both criminal and victim less than would Americans. Respondents (N = 473) were asked to make judgments about varied rape cases. Information about victim chastity affected judgments by both groups of respondents, although Indian respondents stated this as a reason for their judgments much more frequently than did Americans. Indian respondents tended to blame both criminal and victim less than did Americans, emphasizing instead the circumstances surrounding the offense.