Dr Dominic Willmott (University of Huddersfield) The role of rape myths in sexual violence perpetration, survivor disclosure, and CJS attrition rates A growing body of empirical research displays that attitudes held towards sexual violence, often referred to as rape myth acceptance, are important determinants in sexual violence perpetration and survivor decisions to report their victimisation to the authorities. Evidence suggests widespread belief of these inaccurate assumptions surrounding rape and sexual violence not only prevents survivors from coming forward but prevents their access to justice at every stage of the criminal justice system. Dominic’s presentation will examine these myths and the effects that their prevalence has on perpetration, reporting, and disclosure. Dr Dominic Willmott is a Research Psychologist based within the University of Huddersfield's None-in-Three Research Centre for Gender-based Violence. Dominic research interests and publications to date focus broadly around issues relating to domestic violence, sexual violence, and child abuse & neglect. His main area of expertise relates to jury decision making within rape trials, and his work in this field has led to his involvement in policy reform discussions with several government agencies and NGOs.

1. Dr Dominic Willmott
None-in-Three Research Centre
University of Huddersfield
D.Willmott@hud.ac.uk
@DrDomWillmott
The Role of Rape
Myths in
Sexual Violence
Perpetration,
Survivor Disclosure,
and
CJS Attrition Rates
@NoneinThree
#PreventSexualHarm

2. Presentation Overview
 Problem of Sexual Abuse & Rape
 What are Rape Myths?
o Where do they come from?
o How do they operate?
 How do Rape Myths affect…
o Perpetrators
o Survivors
o Police & Prosecutors
o Jurors
P.S. don’t forget about Judges!

3. Sexual Offending in E&W
Prevalence and Attrition

4. Prevalence Rates – ONS (2018)
National Crime Survey Data
 510,000 Women & 138,000 Men Sexually Victimised each year
 Significantly, only 121,187 offences formally recorded by police
during same period
 Gov Figures & Independent Research Suggests;
5 out of 6 victims of SA never report victimisation to police
 Gendered Nature of Serious Sex Offences in E&W
Females = 80% of victims
Males = 98% of those Prosecuted (CPS, 2017)

5. Home Office Estimates
60-95K
15K Allegations
Recorded
2.9K Preceded to
Court
1K Convicted (7%
of all recorded)
Rape (only) Data - 2013

6. Rape & The English CJS
CPS & MOJ (Oct 2016/17)
 40,000+ Cases Recorded by Police
 5,190 Cases Proceeded to Court
13% of all reported rapes
 2,991 Cases Defendant Convicted
7% of all reported rapes
- 58% of all cases that went to trial = G
but 42% still unsuccessful?
Rape = 48,773

7. True Picture?
Rape CPS Conviction After Contest Rates
(Oct 2016/17)
Conviction
Rate drops
to 46%
Defendant
Pleads NG
Case then
proceeds to Jury
Trial

8. Sexual Abuse Attrition Rates
So why are
Conviction rates so
low?
And what’s going on
with Jurors?
Why do so few
allegations make it
to Court?
And, why are victims
choosing not to
report?

9. Unique Features of Rape & SA
Most Rapes occur in private settings, away from public view
Often the central question revolves not around whether
sexual act happened but whether it occurred with Consent
Strong societal attitudes not typically found for other crimes
mean victim allegations are commonly treated with doubt or
outright disbelief
Rape myths & perceptions of “what happens in a real rape”
thought to effect all stages of the CJS…

10. Rape Myths:
The Scientific Evidence

11. What are Rape Myths?
Prejudiced
Beliefs &
Attitudes
Surrounding
Rape & SV
Commonly and
Persistently held
Yet, Factually
Inaccurate

12. 6) She liked it
really
(JUSTIFY)
5) It’s wasn’t
as bad as
claimed
(DENY)
4) She
wanted it
(BLAME)
3) He didn’t
mean to
(JUSTIFY)
2) It wasn’t
really rape
(DENY)
1) She asked
for it (BLAME)
What are Rape Myths?
6 Rape Myth Categories (Female)
Rape Myths =
 Cognitive tool’s which ‘turn off’ Social Prohibitions that prevent SA
(Burt, 1980, p 282)
 Serve to trivialise & justify SA whilst blaming victims
(Bohner et al, 2006, p 286)

13. Common Rape Myths

14. Where do Rape Myths come from?
Rape Myth Beliefs
Peer
Groups
Media &
Pop
Culture
Family
During
Childhood
Culturally Derived
 Ward (1995) Major study found existence of Rape Myths in all countries, cultures, & societies
tested

15. How do Rape Myths affect…
Sexual Violence Perpetration
 Johnson & Beech (2017) Syst Review of RMA scores in Convicted Rapists
 RMA was found to be a risk factor for sexual offending
 Sex Offenders had Sig. higher RMA scores than Non-SO’s & general pop
 A link is also found in Men from general pop RMA scores and sexual objectification &
abuse of women (Jozkowski & Peterson, 2013; Wright & Tokunaga, 2016)
 Men + RMA are sig. more likely to report using verbal coercion, deception, physical
force, & sexually aggressive behaviour to obtain sex
 Briere & Malamuth (1983) Asked Male UG Students:
 Would you rape a woman if you knew you would not get caught?
 30% of men said Yes!!
 This figure was also replicated in subsequent research (e.g. Hamilton & Yee, 1990)

16. How do Rape Myths affect…
Survivor Decisions to Report
 Survivors of Sexual Abuse can also score high in RMA and in turn may choose
not to report
 Victims & non-victims exhibited very similar RMA scores, suggesting
socialisation & belief in a “just world” encourage victims to retain their support
of some rape myths (Carmody et al, 2001; Burt, 1980; Jenkins & Dambrot, 1987; Lefley et al, 1993)
It’s my fault for
Inviting him over
I should have
fought him more
Maybe it’s my
fault for not
making it clear

17. How do Rape Myths affect…
Police Investigation & Prosecutor Decisions
 Lots of research evidence that police officers and prosecutors can score
high in RMA (Parratt & Pina, 2017; Brown, Hamilton & O’Neill, 2007; McMillian, 2018)
 Crucially, evidence displays that investigative & charging decisions can
be negatively impacted by Rape Myth Beliefs
+ RMA scores = victim considered to be responsible, perp less
responsible & cases judged to be ‘less authentic’ (Hind & Murphy, 2018 – 808 Met Cops’)
 BUT – most research found effective RMA training was able to reverse
this effect almost immediately?

18. How do Rape Myths affect…
Jurors & Jury Decision Making
 Rape Myths associated with NG verdicts in numerous past studies…

19. However – problems with past research
mean the results often cannot be relied upon.
And the research has therefore largely been
disregarded by policy makers…
Jury Bias Research: Gaps in Understanding

20. Past Jury Research Limitations
VS.
VS.
VS.

21. Rape Trial Re-enactment Study

22. Study Procedure
 Live trial re-enactment
(Real Lawyers / Actors / Judges Review of Legal Instructions)
 Based on real Acquaintance Rape case
 Case checked at multiple time points ensuring conformed with UK Law of
Evidence & genuine trial procedures
 ‘Jurors’ watched trial in mock courtroom – one full day

23.  108 Mock Jurors recruited (9 x 12 person jury panels)
 Invited from Electoral Register
 Age range 18 – 73 (M = 45.00, SD = 15.75)
 51% females & 49% males
 Random Comp Generation to 1 of 9 re-enactments
 Jury Eligibility Assessed prior to participation (‘summons’ completed)
Study Procedure

24. Study Procedure
What did the Experiment involve?
1) Psychosocial
Assessment
2) Observe Trial 3) First Verdict
Decision
4) Group
Deliberation
5) Final Verdict
Decision

25. Rape
Attitudes
Gender
Verdict
Decision 1
(Pre-deliberation)
- Greater RMA sig predictor of NG verdicts
- Men sig more likely to return NG verdict than women
Willmott, Debowska, Boduszek & Booth (Under Review)
Findings

26. Rape
Attitudes
Gender
Verdict
Decision 2
(Post-deliberation)
- Only rape attitudes consistent sig predictor verdict outcomes
Willmott, Debowska, Boduszek & Booth (Under Review)
Findings

27. RMA
Rape
Attitudes
Verdict
Decision
1
Verdict
Decision
2
Group Deliberation
Overall Consistent Findings

28. Predictors of Verdict Outcomes
G/NG
Self-Esteem
Age, Gender,
Education
Interpersonal
Style
Sexual
Victimisation
Rape Myth
Acceptance

29. Study 2: JDM Process

30. Decision Making Process
Rape
Attitudes
Defnd
Belief
Comp
Belief

31. Implications & Solutions?
EDUCATION!
EDUCATION!
EDUCATION!

32. RMA Education
School ‘Prevention’
Effective Sex Ed.
Before norms become
internalized
Perpetrator
Programmes
Myth Busting
SOTP
Circles
Re:Shape
Survivor Ed
RMA Education during
Support
BUT…won’t capture
those not accessing
services
Society Wide
Mass Marketing
Home Office TV Advert
Real & Lasting
Impact???
Police, CPS, Jurors
Mandatory Training
Formal Lengthy Face-to-
face
Videos, Leaflets etc

33. What can WE do?
Challenge Rape
Myths at every
opportunity…

34. Dr Dominic Willmott
University of Huddersfield,
Department of Psychology,
Queensgate campus, Huddersfield
Email – d.willmott@hud.ac.uk