Perpetrator likeability and tactics influence blame and accountability in sexual assaults. Perpetrators who were described as likeable, or who used coercion instead of force, received less blame for sexual assault, while survivors in these scenarios were more likely to be blamed.
Perpetrator likeability and tactics influence accountability in cancel culture
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I’ve linked to the news release in the post above. In this comment, for those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11199-024-01465-2
From the linked article:
Perpetrator likeability and tactics influence accountability in cancel culture
In a recent study published in Sex Roles, researchers examined how a perpetrator’s likeability and the type of tactic used in a sexual assault—whether coercion or force—affect public perceptions of blame and accountability.
The #MeToo movement has drawn attention to the issue of sexual violence, particularly by high-profile individuals, but accountability for perpetrators remains inconsistent. Studies have shown that perpetrators’ characteristics, such as likeability, may shield them from full accountability.
The researchers found that both the likeability of the perpetrator and the tactic used influenced participants’ perceptions of blame and accountability. Perpetrators who were described as likeable received significantly less blame for the assault, while survivors in these scenarios were more likely to be blamed by the participants.
Conversely, unlikeable perpetrators were more heavily blamed for the assault, and participants showed greater support for holding these individuals accountable both personally and professionally. This suggests that likeability acts as a protective factor for perpetrators, even in cases of sexual assault.
The type of tactic used in the assault also influenced participants’ judgments. Perpetrators who used coercion were viewed more leniently than those who used force. Not only were coercive perpetrators assigned less blame, but the survivors in these scenarios were also blamed more compared to survivors in the force scenarios.