Attitudes Toward Rape Victims Scale (AVRS)

Abstract

The Attitudes Toward Rape Victims Scale (AVRS) is a comprehensive psychometric instrument designed to measure the degree to which individuals endorse beliefs, stereotypes, and myths concerning the causes of rape and the characteristics and behavior of victims. Developed by Colleen Ward and colleagues, this scale is widely utilized in social psychology and criminology research to quantify victim-blaming attitudes and assess the prevalence of specific rape myths, which often serve to justify or minimize the severity of sexual violence. The initial validation study included psychometric data collected across 14 countries, highlighting its broad international applicability and reliability in cross-cultural research.

Keywords

Attitudes Toward Rape Victims Scale, AVRS, Colleen Ward, rape myths, victim-blaming, sexual violence, forensic psychology, psychometric data, social attitudes, cross-cultural study.

Authors

Colleen Ward, et al.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the AVRS is to provide a reliable and standardized method for assessing subtle and overt negative attitudes directed toward survivors of sexual assault. By quantifying these attitudes, researchers can better understand the societal and psychological factors that contribute to the perpetuation of rape culture, judicial biases, and secondary victimization of survivors. The scale distinguishes between beliefs that place responsibility on the victim (victim precipitation) and those that focus on the nature of the crime or the perpetrator.

Furthermore, the scale is useful in evaluating the effectiveness of educational interventions aimed at reducing rape myth acceptance among specific populations, such as legal professionals, law enforcement, and university students. The wide range of items covers various dimensions of rape perception, from the victim’s conduct and resistance to the character of the perpetrator and the institutional response to the crime.

Construct

The AVRS measures the construct of Attitudes Toward Rape Victims, which is often conceptualized as the degree of acceptance of “rape myths.” These myths are defined as prejudicial, stereotyped, or false beliefs about sexual assault, victims, and assailants. High scores on certain subscales of the AVRS indicate a greater acceptance of beliefs that minimize the seriousness of rape, shift responsibility from the perpetrator to the victim, or suggest that victims somehow deserved or provoked the assault.

The scale captures several underlying dimensions relevant to social justice and psychological theory, including the attribution of blame, beliefs about the psychological damage caused by rape, expectations regarding victim resistance, and general attitudes toward gender roles and sexual control. It provides a nuanced measure beyond simple agreement or disagreement, allowing for the quantification of deeply ingrained societal biases.

Validity

The AVRS demonstrates strong construct validity, consistently correlating negatively with measures of modern feminist beliefs and positively with measures of hostile sexism and authoritarianism, confirming that it accurately measures underlying prejudicial attitudes. The scale was validated across a diverse, international sample (14 countries), suggesting robust cross-cultural validity, which is essential for scales dealing with sensitive social issues.

Criterion validity has been established through studies showing that scores on the AVRS predict behaviors and judgments in simulated rape scenarios, such as jury members’ likelihood of convicting an accused rapist or mental health professionals’ empathy toward a victim. The psychometric data detailed in the original 1992 publication provide specific evidence of the scale’s ability to differentiate between individuals holding varying degrees of myth acceptance.

Reliability

The reliability of the AVRS is generally reported as high across various studies. The primary validation study indicated strong internal consistency, typically measured by Cronbach’s alpha, suggesting that the 70 items effectively measure the same underlying construct. Test-retest reliability has also been confirmed, indicating that the scale provides stable measures of attitudes over time.

Factor Analysis

While the original scale is presented as a singular measure of attitudes, subsequent factor analysis across diverse samples has often revealed a multi-factor structure, typically identifying distinct subscales. Common factors extracted include: 1) Victim Responsibility/Precipitation (items suggesting the victim provoked the assault), 2) Perpetrator Excuse/Minimization (items downplaying the rapist’s culpability), and 3) Institutional Response Bias (attitudes concerning legal or social difficulties faced by victims). Researchers often use these distinct factors to analyze specific facets of rape myth acceptance rather than relying solely on the total AVRS score.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychological scale (Attitude Measure)

Format: 70 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from Disagree strongly to Agree strongly. The total score range is 0-100 (after scoring adjustments).

Language Available: English, with validated translations available due to its cross-cultural use in 14 countries.

Population Group: General population, students, and specific professional groups (e.g., police, jurors).

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults.

Population Details: Originally validated using psychometric data gathered from subjects across 14 international settings.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with 70 statements reflecting various attitudes toward rape victims and the crime of rape.

Keywords

Attitude measurement, rape victim, psychological scale, social psychology, victim precipitation, sexual assault, psychometrics, Colleen Ward, sexual violence, cross-cultural psychology.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not specified in the source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not specified in the source material.

Correspondence Address: Not specified in the source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Attitudes Toward Rape Victims Scale (AVRS) was first published with psychometric data in 1992. As a widely used academic instrument, it is generally available for non-commercial research and educational use, though researchers should consult the original publication or author for specific permission details regarding reproduction or commercial use. The original PDF describing the instrument and psychometric data can be downloaded here: http://opus.kobv.de/ubp/volltexte/2009/3449/pdf/the_attitudes_1992.pdf

Reference’s

The primary reference detailing the psychometric properties and cross-cultural validation of the AVRS is:

• Ward, C., et al. (1992). The attitudes toward rape victims scale: psychometric data from 14 countries. First published in 1992. Post print published at the Institutional Repository of Potsdam University (Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe ; 85). Available online at: http://opus.kobv.de/ubp/volltexte/2009/3449/

• The persistent identifier (URN) for the institutional repository post print is: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-34495.

Items of the Attitudes Toward Rape Victims Scale (AVRS)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

• 2. A raped woman is a less desirable woman.

• 3. Most women are psychologically damaged by rape.

• 4. Most rapes are planned.

• 5. It is difficult for a man to control his sexual impulses if aroused by a seductive woman.

• 6. Women often claim rape to protect their reputations.

• 7. Each woman should be responsible for preventing her own rape.

• 8. Rapists are mentally ill.

• 9. Fear may prevent a woman from resisting rape.

• 10. Many raped women never report the incident.

• 11. Women who have had prior sexual relationships should not complain about rape.

• 12. Rape is not confined to the lower classes.

• 13. Intoxicated women are usually willing to have sexual relations.

• 14. Certain women who are too proud deserve to be raped.

• 15. Convicted rapists should receive harsh sentences.

• 16. A raped woman is usually an innocent victim.

• 17. A woman should not feel guilty if she has been raped.

• 18. The extent of the woman’s resistance should be the major factor in determining if a rape has occurred.

• 19. Women do not provoke rape by their appearance or behavior.

• 20. It would do some women good to be raped. –

• 21. Any female may be raped.

• 22. If a girl does not set limits on sexual behavior it is her own fault if her partner forces sexual relations on her.

• 23. Rape is a serious crime.

• 24. A married woman who has been a rape victim is a disgrace to her husband.

• 25. Women who say no in sexual relations usually mean it.

• 26. Rapists are not sexually frustrated individuals.

• 27. Rape serves as a way to keep women in their place.

• 28. A woman may be raped by a man with whom she has previously had sexual relations.

• 29. Raped women often appear calm while reporting the incident.

• 30. Most women secretly desire to be raped.

• 31. Victims should not be blamed for forcible rape.

• 32. Many women claim rape if they have consented to sexual relations but have changed their minds afterward.

• 33. Delayed reporting of rape decreases the victim’s credibility.

• 34. “Good” girls are as likely to be raped as “bad” girls.

• 35. Men and women share joint responsibility in setting sexual limits in male-female “relationships.

• 36. Rapists are men who are unable to control their sexual impulses.

• 37. Rape of a married woman is no more objectionable than rape of a divorced woman.

• 38. Younger girls are sometimes raped by older men they have known and trusted.

• 39. If rape involves loss of virginity it should be punished more severely.

• 40. If there were no legal or social controls on sexual behavior‚ most men would rape.

• 41. Bruises‚ scratches‚ broken bones and torn clothes are the real indicators of a woman’s resistance to rape.

• 42. Even women who feel guilty‚ about engaging in premarital sex are not likely to falsely claim rape.

• 43. Women who are raped while accepting rides from strangers get what they deserve.

• 44. Most ch‎arges of rape are valid.

• 45. A woman can be sexually assaulted by her husband.

• 46. Rape provides an opportunity for rapists to demonstrate their manhood.

• 47. Women who ‘wear short skirts or tight blouses are not inviting rape.

• 48. Most women do not enjoy violence in sexual relations.

• 49. “Nice” girls are not raped.

• 50. In order to protect the accused‚ it should be difficult to prove that rape has occurred.

• 51. In the majority of cases‚ the victim is not promiscuous and does not have a bad reputation.

• 52. During a rape a woman should do everything she can to resist.

• 53. A raped woman has not been unfaithful to her husband or boyfriend.

• 54. Men‚ not women‚ are responsible for rape.

• 55. Many women invent stories of rape if they learn they are pregnant.

• 56. In most cases when a woman was raped‚ she deserved it.

• 57. Accusations of rape by bargirls‚ dance hostesses and prostitutes should be viewed with suspicion.

• 58. Rape prevention is a community responsibility.

• 59. A woman who goes out alone at night puts herself in a position to be raped.

• 60. Most rape victims do not dress provocatively.

• 61. A healthy woman can resist a rapist if she really tries.

• 62. Most rape victims are acquainted with their rapists.

• 63. Rape is not an expression of an uncontrollable desire for sex.

• 64. Many women who report rape are lying because they are angry or want revenge on the accused.

• 65. A woman’s previous sexual history should not be considered in rape cases.

• 66. A woman’s family does not ‘lose face’ if she has been raped.

• 67. Males are entitled to sexual gratification regardless of their partners’ moods or feelings.

• 68. Sexually experienced women are not really damaged by rape.

• 69. Women put themselves in situations in which they are likely to be sexually assaulted because they have an unconscious wish to be raped.

• 70. A woman should not blame herself for rape.