scholarly journals Investigating the demographic and attitudinal predictors of rape myth acceptance in U.K. Police officers: developing an evidence-base for training and professional development

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Murphy ◽  
Benjamin Hine
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Myth Acceptance

Police Interviews of Sexual Assault Reporters: Do Attitudes Matter?

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Rich ◽  
Patrick Seffrin
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Stress Reactions ◽  
Police Interviews ◽  
Criminal Justice Professionals ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Myth Acceptance

Sexual assault is underreported in the United States. Survivors are often reluctant to make police reports for various reasons; one is fear of revictimization by criminal justice professionals. Conversely, police officers often lack skills for interviewing crime victims. Posttraumatic stress reactions among victims can exacerbate the problem. Although some victims prefer female interviewers, it is not known whether they are more skilled. A sample of 429 police officers completed a written survey testing their rape myth acceptance and knowledge of how to interview rape reporters. A significant relationship between rape myth acceptance and interviewing skill was discovered. Although officer gender was related to interviewing skill, the effect was mediated by rape myth acceptance. Specific officer behaviors related to high rape myth acceptance were identified. Implications for selection of police to conduct victim interviews were discussed.

Rape Myth Acceptance of Police Officers in Portugal

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052091628
Author(s):  
Marisalva Fávero ◽  
Amaia Del Campo ◽  
Sandra Faria ◽  
Diana Moreira ◽  
Filipe Ribeiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Professional Experience ◽  
Specific Training ◽  
Length Of Service ◽  
Sociodemographic Data ◽  
Myth Acceptance

This study intended to examine rape myth acceptance (RMA) among police officers and its relationship with sociodemographic data, length of service, specific training in the field, and professional experience with victims of rape. To this end, we applied the Sexual Violence Beliefs Scale (ECVS) and controlled for sociodemographic data, as well as professional experience and specific training in the field, through a self-report questionnaire. The sample was composed of 400 police officers from a city in the north of Portugal, aged between 29 and 54 years, and most were men (94.3%). We found that tolerance to overall sexual violence exhibits positive correlations with age and length of service, as well as negative correlations with education levels. Differences were also found regarding gender, with men exhibiting greater tolerance/acceptance of overall sexual violence. It was also found that officers who exhibit higher tolerance/acceptance for sexual violence, overall, are those who do not consider it relevant to receive specific training in the field of sexual violence to perform their duties, who report not having any professional experience with cases of sexual violence and also do not consider it necessary to have specific abilities for these types of cases. Implications for decision-making in legal proceedings are discussed, stressing the need for specific specialization in intervention with victims of sexual assault, with a strong practical component.

Police Officers’ Rape Myth Acceptance: Examining the Role of Officer Characteristics, Estimates of False Reporting, and Social Desirability Bias

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 176-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel M. Venema
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Social Desirability ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Police Department ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Social Desirability Bias ◽  
False Reporting ◽  
Acceptance Scale ◽  
Myth Acceptance

This study examines police officers’ perceptions of sexual assault and those who report sexual assault to the police, using a revised version of the Rape Myth Acceptance Scale along with a measure of social desirability bias. The study includes survey responses from 174 officers from 1 mid-sized police department in the Great Lakes region. Results show low to moderate levels of rape myth acceptance scores on the Rape Myth Acceptance Scale, with highest scores related to victim lying. Officers report very high estimates of false reporting, indicating some rape myth acceptance. Officer level of education, rank, and estimates of false reporting influence rape myth acceptance; however, social desirability bias is an important explanatory factor. Implications for measurement and training are discussed.

A Brief Report on Rape Myth Acceptance: Differences Between Police Officers, Law Students, and Psychology Students in the United Kingdom

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Sleath ◽  
Ray Bull
Keyword(s):  
Police Officers ◽  
Rape Myths ◽  
Psychology Students ◽  
Rape Myth Acceptance ◽  
Law Students ◽  
Rape Myth ◽  
Rape Victims ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Acceptance Scale ◽  
Myth Acceptance

A common perception is that police officers hold very negative attitudes about rape victims. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to establish whether police officers do accept stereotypical rape myths at a higher level compared to members of other populations. There were 3 comparison samples, composed of police officers, law students, and psychology students, that completed the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance scale. Male and female police officers accepted “she lied” myths at a higher level than the student samples. Student samples were found to accept 2 types of rape myths (“she asked for it” and “he didn’t meant to”) at a higher level compared to police officers. No significant differences were found in the other 4 subfactors. Therefore, the pattern of results suggests that police officers do not adhere to stereotypical myths about rape victims more than do other populations.

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