This study investigated the
effects of obesity myths on blame attribution and the perceived credibility of
both an alleged sexual assault victim and her perpetrator.
Participants were
randomly assigned to one of three sexual assault scenarios (in which either the
victim or the perpetrator was described as obese and one in which both were
described as obese) and responded to questions measuring the blame attribution
and perceived the credibility of both individuals. A main effect of scenario
was found on the perpetrator’s credibility, indicating that participants rated
the obese perpetrator as more credible when the victim was obese in comparison
with when the victim was nonobese. However, no main effect of scenario was
found on the victim’s credibility and blame attribution, denoting that the
victim’s or perpetrator’s weight did not influence participants’ perceptions of
the victim’s credibility or blame attribution.
The belief in obesity myths was
the most significant predictor of victim blaming. However, differing patterns
of the effects of obesity myths were found on the victim’s credibility and the
perpetrator’s credibility. The belief in obesity myths was a significant
predictor only when the victim was obese, whereas it was not a significant
predictor in the scenarios where both the victim and the perpetrator were obese
or the perpetrator was obese and the victim was nonobese.
As for the
perpetrator’s credibility, the belief of obesity myths was not a significant
predictor. Instead, the scenario was a significant predictor. Implications of
obesity-myth endorsement in relation to sexual assault are discussed.
Purchase full article at: http://goo.gl/S5iQEO
- Niwako Yamawaki, Brigham Young University, 1094 SWKT, Provo, UT 84602, USA. Email: niwako_yamawaki@byu.edu
More at: https://twitter.com/hiv_insight
No comments:
Post a Comment