Exposure to information about sexual crimes and its relationship to perceptions of social threats and belief in a just world
Exposure to information about sexual crimes and its relationship to perceptions of social threats and belief in a just world
StatusPost-Print
Alternative title
Authors
Grzyb, Tomasz
Doliński, Dariusz
Muniak, Paweł
Kulesza, Wojciech
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Journal title
Journal of Criminal Psychology
Issue
Volume
Pages
Pages
1-45
ISSN
2009-3829
ISSN of series
Access date
2024-11-08
Abstract PL
Abstract EN
Purpose
The purpose of the two online experimental studies was to examine how information about threats related to sexual crimes influences personal beliefs regarding social threats (in line with the finite pool of worry concept) and belief in a just world, as proposed by Melvin Lerner.
Design/methodology/approach
In the first experiment (n = 256), female participants were presented with press information about a sexual crime that occurred at a student concert. Different groups were informed whether the perpetrator was apprehended (or not) and asked to indicate the punishment they thought should be imposed. In the second experiment (n = 251), participants in the experimental group were asked to read texts about various threats that may concern them.
Findings
In both experiments, the authors measured the perceived risk of being a victim of a sexual crime (and, in Study 1, other threats) as well as belief in just world (at both personal and general levels). Analysis of results has shown that participants’ focus on one threat did not reduce their concerns about other threats. However, belief in just world appears to be negatively associated with the fear of being a victim of a sexual crime.
Originality/value
The findings concern the relationship between the sense of threat and belief in a just world. In this regard, both of the studies consistently showed that the threats the authors induced did not affect the level of belief in a just world. However, the second experiment revealed that belief in a just world is related to the fear of being raped. Belief in a just world serves as a foundation for good adaptation and functioning. It provides cognitive control, motivates hard work and long-term goal-setting and gives life meaning (e.g. Dalbert, 1999; Dalbert and Sallay, 2004; Sutton and Winnard, 2007). Therefore, a woman’s fear of being a victim of rape has implications that extend beyond this narrowly defined issue.
Abstract other
Keywords PL
Keywords EN
Belief in just world
Risk perception
Rape myths
Risk perception
Rape myths
Keywords other
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