Abstract
The purpose of our study was to identify factors underlying rape survivors' post-assault prosecution decisions by testing a decision model that included the complex relations between the multiple social ecological systems within which rape survivors are embedded. We coded 440 police rape cases for characteristics of the assault and characteristics of the rape survivor congruent with rape mythology. In addition, support from friends/family members, social service providers, and police were assessed. Path analysis, using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) that included a bias-corrected bootstrap resampling procedure, supported our model. As hypothesized, rape survivors' final decisions to aid in case prosecution were predicted by support from the three social ecologies: family/friends, social service providers, and police. Social service provider support, in turn, was predicted by assault characteristics congruent with rape mythology, whereas family/friend and police support were significantly predicted by the interaction between assault and survivor characteristics congruent with rape mythology. Our results show the value of applying a socioecological framework to help understand factors that influence rape survivors' prosecution decisions. Moreover, our results highlight the need to challenge commonly held views of "typical" rape survivors and the "typical" circumstances surrounding their assault.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 92-106 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Psychology of Women Quarterly |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 2010 |
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Keywords
- Case prosecution
- Criminal justice
- Law enforcement
- Rape
- Sexual assault
- Social support
- Stereotyped attitudes
- Victimization
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychology(all)
- Gender Studies
Cite this
A socioecological model of rape survivors' decisions to aid in case prosecution. / Anders, Mary C.; Christopher, F. Scott.
In: Psychology of Women Quarterly, Vol. 35, No. 1, 03.2010, p. 92-106.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A socioecological model of rape survivors' decisions to aid in case prosecution
AU - Anders, Mary C.
AU - Christopher, F. Scott
PY - 2010/3
Y1 - 2010/3
N2 - The purpose of our study was to identify factors underlying rape survivors' post-assault prosecution decisions by testing a decision model that included the complex relations between the multiple social ecological systems within which rape survivors are embedded. We coded 440 police rape cases for characteristics of the assault and characteristics of the rape survivor congruent with rape mythology. In addition, support from friends/family members, social service providers, and police were assessed. Path analysis, using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) that included a bias-corrected bootstrap resampling procedure, supported our model. As hypothesized, rape survivors' final decisions to aid in case prosecution were predicted by support from the three social ecologies: family/friends, social service providers, and police. Social service provider support, in turn, was predicted by assault characteristics congruent with rape mythology, whereas family/friend and police support were significantly predicted by the interaction between assault and survivor characteristics congruent with rape mythology. Our results show the value of applying a socioecological framework to help understand factors that influence rape survivors' prosecution decisions. Moreover, our results highlight the need to challenge commonly held views of "typical" rape survivors and the "typical" circumstances surrounding their assault.
AB - The purpose of our study was to identify factors underlying rape survivors' post-assault prosecution decisions by testing a decision model that included the complex relations between the multiple social ecological systems within which rape survivors are embedded. We coded 440 police rape cases for characteristics of the assault and characteristics of the rape survivor congruent with rape mythology. In addition, support from friends/family members, social service providers, and police were assessed. Path analysis, using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) that included a bias-corrected bootstrap resampling procedure, supported our model. As hypothesized, rape survivors' final decisions to aid in case prosecution were predicted by support from the three social ecologies: family/friends, social service providers, and police. Social service provider support, in turn, was predicted by assault characteristics congruent with rape mythology, whereas family/friend and police support were significantly predicted by the interaction between assault and survivor characteristics congruent with rape mythology. Our results show the value of applying a socioecological framework to help understand factors that influence rape survivors' prosecution decisions. Moreover, our results highlight the need to challenge commonly held views of "typical" rape survivors and the "typical" circumstances surrounding their assault.
KW - Case prosecution
KW - Criminal justice
KW - Law enforcement
KW - Rape
KW - Sexual assault
KW - Social support
KW - Stereotyped attitudes
KW - Victimization
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U2 - 10.1177/0361684310394802
DO - 10.1177/0361684310394802
M3 - Article
VL - 35
SP - 92
EP - 106
JO - Psychology of Women Quarterly
JF - Psychology of Women Quarterly
SN - 0361-6843
IS - 1
ER -