Alcohol and Rape

Abstract

This study examined the effects of victim and offender intoxication on attributions of blame in a rape incident. Participants read scenarios of a rape incident in which victim, offender, both, or neither were intoxicated. The male offender was attributed less and the situation was attributed more responsibility when the offender was drunk than when he was sober. In addition, participants derogated the female victim's character and assigned her greater responsibility when she was drunk than when she was sober.