Cognitive appraisals are believed to influence how women judge or appraise risk in acquaintance interactions which lead to sexual assault. Ways in which men and women judge the presence of risk factors in scripted acquaintance rape scenarios, and whether alcohol was a significant factor in assessing risk, are examined in this paper. Participants…

Investigated attitudes toward rape victims held by 144 undergraduates. Results showed that: (1) sympathy effect occurred for female victims, with both male and female raters; (2) masculine and undifferentiated raters showed sympathy effect whereas feminine and androgynous subjects did not; and (3) victims were attributed internal locus of…

Explores the influence of gender and race on sexual attitudes and on experiences with sexual victimization. Analysis from 323 white and 60 black college students shows an influence of gender on sexual attitudes. There also is evidence of an interaction between race and gender on the acceptance of interpersonal violence and the acceptance of rape…

Explored myths about rape and tendency to blame victim in high school (n=54) and college (n=46) students. High school males believed more strongly than did high school females and college males in rape myths and assigned greater blame to victims. For high school students, belief in myths about rape was associated with assigning more victim blame.…

Discusses reactions and attitudes of students in a women's studies course during the Gulf War. Contends that the imagery of war as a sexual, phallic event was a major topic of class discussion. Presents excerpts from teacher and student conversations. (CFR)

Intervention sought to improve first-year college students' attitudes about rape. Used the Elaboration Likelihood Model to examine men's and women's attitude change process. Found numerous sex differences in ways men and women experienced and changed during and after intervention. Women's attitude showed more lasting change while men's was more…

A study, framed by the basic research and course discussion questions in the Newswriting and Reporting course at the University of Iowa's School of Journalism and Mass Communication, asked whether rape/sexual assault victims should be named in the press and also examined how these future journalists might rewrite newsroom policy on naming names.…

High-school male and female students completed a survey on perceptions regarding nonconsensual sexual activity. Females, blacks, and students with low academic achievement were significantly more likely to perceive that all or most of their close friends were having sex. Females were more knowledgeable than males about nonconsensual sexual…

Describes a college-level, mixed-gender date rape workshop provided to over 1,400 students. The workshop included student discussion. Evaluations indicated students were positive about the experience. Very few felt uncomfortable discussing date rape in mixed groups, and nearly all agreed that date rape was a topic worthy of discussion. (SM)

Examines the relationship between college students' gender roles and attitudes toward rape for 145 male and 374 female students. Responses to a scenario questionnaire suggest that women and men view acquaintance rape differently and that men may experience more attitude change resulting from an awareness workshop than do women. (SLD)

Describes a case study approach to acquaintance rape used in a Personal Health and Lifestyles course at the University of Nevada in Reno that allows students to discuss the characters in a scenario, an instructional process seen as less threatening than describing personal experiences. (MDM)

Reviews methodological problems of previous research on male perpetrators of sexual violence. Discusses the need for a rigorous methodology in defining the extent of the problem. Proposes an aggressive new research agenda that would examine men's prosocial behavior. (KW)

Provides an annotated bibliography of videos and printed materials that may be used as educational tools in rape prevention programs. Focuses on sources that are aimed directly at men. Also outlines the use of consultants or lecturers as one of many resources in the construction and implementation of rape prevention programs. (KW)

This study examined the relationship between sex role stereotypes of women and eighth graders' beliefs in rape myths. Surveys indicated that both sexes accepted some rape myths and sex role stereotyping of women. There was an association between belief in rape myths and stereotyping. More boys than girls accepted rape myths. (SM)

This study investigated the effects of a co-educational, theatrical, peer-facilitated sexual assault prevention program at a large midwestern university. Additionally, the study compared results based on two different measurement tools (the Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (RMAS) and the Sexual Beliefs Scale (SBS)). Methods: Pre-test post-test…