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Original Communication

Perceived Rape Myth Acceptance of Others Predicts Rape Proclivity: Social Norm or Judgmental Anchoring?

Published Online:September 01, 2006https://doi.org/10.1024/1421-0185.65.2.93

Abstract

Previous research has shown that information about others’ rape myth acceptance (RMA) affects men’s rape proclivity (Bohner, Siebler, & Schmelcher, 2006). By varying both the level (low vs. high) and format (norm vs. anchor) of such information, different explanations for this effect were investigated. After reporting their own RMA, 117 male participants either read about others’ allegedly low vs. high RMA responses (norm conditions), or estimated if others’ responses were higher or lower than an “arbitrary” low vs. high value (anchor conditions). Later, participants indicated their rape proclivity (RP). Results show that the level of others’ RMA significantly affected participants’ self-reported RP, independent of information format. Furthermore, self-reported RMA and RP were positively correlated. Implications for future research are discussed.

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