Male rape myths: Examining the role of victim empathy and socio-demographics in a cross-sectional sample of UK adults

Willmott, Dominic; Widanaralalage, B. Kennath

doi:10.1016/j.ijlcj.2023.100645

Cited by 37Sexual Assault and Victimization StudiesPsychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual OffendingSocial and Intergroup Psychology

Male rape myths: Examining the role of victim empathy and socio-demographics in a cross-sectional sample of UK adults

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Willmott, Dominic, Widanaralalage, B. Kennath·2024·International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice

DOI 10.1016/j.ijlcj.2023.100645

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Abstract

Whilst much is known about the psychosocial correlates of rape myth beliefs regarding female victims, much less research has investigated factors that underlie male rape myth beliefs. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the role of victim empathy and socio-demographics upon male rape myth beliefs. 303 UK adults aged 18 to 74 (M Age = 31.48) completed the Male Rape Myth Scale (MRMS) and the None-in-Three Victim Responsiveness Assessment (NI3: VRA), alongside assessing socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity, education). Results reveal gender and ethnicity differences in affective victim-empathy sub-scales and overall male rape myth beliefs. Regression analyses determined that age, gender, ethnicity, and affective victim-empathy were significant predictors of male rape myth attitudes. The results have important implications for understanding those who are likely to believe falsehoods pertaining to male survivors of sexual victimisation and highlight the need for targeted educational intervention programmes among the UK public, including in their role as jurors.

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Traditional gender values are well-documented as shaping victim-blaming attitudes and rape myths for both female and male survivors.
“Traditional gender values are well-documented as shaping victim-blaming attitudes and rape myths for both female and male survivors [60, 61].”
From ‘We don’t talk about that around here’: an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) of South Asian male survivors’ experiences of childhood sexual abuse in the UK (2025) · cites this paper as [60]

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Authors: Willmott, D., & Widanaralalage, B. K.
Affiliations: Loughborough University (GB)
King's College London (GB)
Corresponding author: Willmott, Dominic
ORCID: Willmott, Dominic
Widanaralalage, B. Kennath
Venue: International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2024-03
Volume: 76
Pages: 100645
ISSN: 0194-6595 (ISSN-L)
1756-0616
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijlcj.2023.100645
OpenAlex: W4389512194
Cited by: 37
References: 76
Citations by year: 2026: 13 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 9
FWCI: 15.52
Type: journal article
Language: en
Update notices: erratum (2024-12-01)
Open access: hybrid
doi.org
Licence: cc-by-nc-nd
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ (vor)
Locations: International journal of law, crime and justice (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics: Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
Keywords: victim empathy, affective empathy, sociodemographic factors, gender differences, ethnicity, age differences, juror education, public attitudes

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Male rape myths: Examining the role of victim empathy and socio-demographics in a cross-sectional sample of UK adults

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