A Qualitative Exploration of Young Australian Adults’ Understanding of and Explanations for Alcohol-Involved Rape

Abstract

Little is known about the beliefs that underlie the biased attributions that typically characterise people's perceptions of intoxicated sexual perpetrators and their victims. Guided by consensual qualitative research, we explored young Australian adults’ (18–25 years; N = 15) attributions for an alcohol-involved rape based on focus groups and interviews. Prominent themes indicated that participants rarely labelled the assault as rape and, instead, adhered to miscommunication explanations. Participants emphasised the developmental value of the victimisation experience although recognising its harmful consequences. Both perpetrator and victim were held strongly responsible based on perceived opportunities to prevent the assault but implicit justifications were, nevertheless, evident. As such, explicit and implicit attributions were contradictory, with the latter reflecting the attributional double standard previously observed in quantitative rape-perception research. Findings underscore the need to challenge pervasive rape myths and equip young adults with knowledge on how to respond supportively to the commonly stigmatised victims of rape.

Key words:

• alcohol
• attribution
• blame
• consensual qualitative research
• perception
• rape
• responsibility
• young adults

Note

Notes

1. We acknowledged the potential for rape disclosure in the focus groups and therefore emphasised that the study was not about personal experiences. The first author (who also moderated the groups) sought advice from a rape crisis centre on how to respond supportively and sensitively to disclosure in a group situation. However, no participant disclosed sexual (or other form of) victimisation nor the perpetration of sexual assault.