Abstract

The present study was carried out (a) to examine the underlying structure of rape myths, (b) to assess the relationships of rape myths to sexual behaviors and violent sexual behaviors against a partner, (c) to examine how respondents with rape myths perceive the behaviors and minds of actors described in an acquaintance rape case and express their behavioral intention when assumed to be engaged in that situation, and finally (d) to test the relationships of rape myths to the sex-role stereotyping scale (Burt, 1980) and the sex-role inventory (Bem, 1974). In Study 1, data collected from male and female undergraduate students showed that (a) rape myths consist of 4 factors: Attribution of rape responsibility, victim's sexual experience, victim pleasure and victim fabrication, and misunderstanding of a partner's behaviors. The statistically significant and positively correlated relationships between rape myths and sexual behaviors were found to be important. Male students reported more sexual experiences and violent sexual aggression than female students. In Study 2, rape myths were positively and significantly correlated with masculinity in sex-role inventory, indicating that personality traits could be factors influencing the formation of rape myths. Discussion focuses on the plausible psychological processes between rape myths and sexual behaviors.