Undergraduate Students' Reactions to Analogue Male Disclosure of Sexual Abuse

ABSTRACT

Anecdotal evidence indicates that male sexual abuse survivors fail to disclose for fear of others' reactions. This study investigated undergraduates' reactions toward a hypothetical male survivor's disclosure whose abuse occurred at age 5, 15 or 25, with a male or female offender. When age at incident was higher, the survivor was seen as less masculine, more responsible for his abuse, and the male sex role and rape myths were more strongly applied to him. Generally, women's reactions were more positive than men's. Less positive reactions were associated with disclosing to other men, abuse occurring at an older age, and a female offender.

KEYWORDS:

• Sex differences
• age
• male sex role
• rape myths
• responsibility
• masculinity