Attitudes Toward Rape Victims Scale

Abstract

The Attitudes Toward Rape Victims Scale (ATRV), developed by Ward (1988), is a widely recognized psychometrics instrument designed to measure the degree to which individuals endorse beliefs and attitudes that are unfavorable toward survivors of sexual assault. This 25-item scale primarily assesses the prevalence of common Rape Myths and tendencies toward Victim Blaming. The scale was foundational in examining how societal perceptions influence the treatment and judgment of rape survivors, particularly focusing on gender roles, resistance expectations, and victim culpability.

Keywords

Rape, Sexual Assault, Rape Myths, Victim Blaming, Attitudes, Psychometrics, Social Psychology, Violence Against Women.

Authors

Ward, C.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the ATRV is to provide a standardized, reliable, and valid measure for assessing underlying prejudicial attitudes concerning sexual violence. It was specifically constructed to move beyond simple agreement with statements about sexual assault and capture the nuanced dimensions of societal belief systems that contribute to the marginalization and secondary victimization of survivors. The scale allows researchers to quantify the extent of adherence to traditional or harmful beliefs about gender and sexual behavior.

Furthermore, the scale was explicitly developed with cross-cultural applicability in mind, allowing comparisons of attitudes across different societies and demographic groups. This focus enables intervention programs to target specific cultural or demographic groups exhibiting high levels of Victim Blaming or adherence to Rape Myths.

Construct

The ATRV measures a singular, underlying construct defined as unfavorable attitudes toward rape victims, which is often operationalized through the endorsement of Rape Myths. These myths are prejudicial, stereotypical, or false beliefs about rape, rape victims, and rapists. The items probe various facets of these myths, including the belief that women provoke rape (e.g., through dress or behavior), that women often lie about rape, that certain women are less credible victims (e.g., sex workers, sexually experienced women), and that victims could have resisted successfully.

The scale items are designed to capture the respondent’s implicit or explicit justification for sexual assault by shifting responsibility away from the perpetrator and onto the victim, a process known as Victim Blaming. High scores on the ATRV generally indicate a strong acceptance of these negative attitudes and myths, while low scores reflect more empathetic and accurate understandings of sexual violence.

Validity

The original research by Ward (1988) established strong initial evidence for the scale’s validity. Construct validity was supported by demonstrating that the ATRV scores correlate predictably with measures of related constructs, such as general attitudes toward women, adherence to traditional gender roles, and measures of authoritarianism. Individuals scoring high on the ATRV typically exhibit more traditional and sexist views.

Additionally, discriminant validity was established by showing that the ATRV measures a distinct construct from general social desirability. The instrument’s utility in various cultural settings further supports its ecological validity, confirming its relevance beyond the initial sample population. Subsequent studies have consistently validated the ATRV’s ability to predict behaviors and judgments related to sexual assault cases.

Reliability

The ATRV has demonstrated robust reliability across numerous studies since its introduction. In the original 1988 study, the internal consistency, measured using Cronbach’s alpha, was reported to be high, indicating that the 25 items consistently measure the same underlying construct. This high consistency suggests the scale is reliable for use in academic and clinical settings.

Further research has supported the scale’s test-retest reliability, confirming that the attitudes measured by the ATRV are generally stable over time. This stability is crucial for research tracking long-term attitudinal change, such as evaluating the effectiveness of anti-violence educational interventions.

Factor Analysis

While the ATRV is often treated as a unidimensional measure of general negative attitudes toward rape victims, Factor Analysis conducted in the original and subsequent studies frequently suggests the presence of multiple underlying factors. Ward (1988) explored the factor structure to ensure comprehensive coverage of the dimensions of rape myths.

Common factors identified in analyses often separate items related to: (1) Victim Responsibility/Provocation (e.g., dress, behavior); (2) Victim Credibility/Lying (e.g., false reporting, ulterior motives); and (3) Damage Assessment (e.g., sexually experienced women not being damaged). Although these factors exist, the ATRV is frequently utilized by researchers as a single, overall score reflecting the total burden of unfavorable attitudes.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report Psychometrics Scale

Format: 25 items scored on a 5-point Likert Scale.

Language Available: English (original), with translations validated in various other languages due to its cross-cultural applicability.

Population Group: General population, students, and specific groups (e.g., legal professionals, police officers) used in research studies.

Age Group: Typically utilized with adolescents and adults (16 years and older).

Population Details: Used globally to assess societal attitudes towards sexual violence survivors.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with each statement using the following options: Disagree strongly, Disagree mildly, Neutral (neither agree nor disagree), Agree mildly, Agree strongly. Items marked with an asterisk (*) are reversed scored to prevent response bias. The total score range is typically standardized, often reported as 0-100.

Keywords

Sexual Violence, Gender Roles, Likert Scale, Measurement, Cross-cultural applicability, Social Attitudes, Psychometrics.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source material.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was published in 1988 by Ward (C.) in the Psychology of Women Quarterly. For academic and research purposes, the scale is generally considered available for use, provided proper attribution is given to the original author and publication. Formal licensing or fees depend on the specific context of use (e.g., commercial vs. non-commercial research).

The original PDF containing the instrument items can be downloaded via a compendium on violence against women measures. The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://www.svri.org/measures.pdf

Reference’s

• Ward‚ C. (1988). The Attitudes toward Rape Victims Scale: Construction‚ validation‚ and cross-cultural applicability. Psychology of Women Quarterly‚ 12‚ 127-146.

• Flood, M. (Compiler). Measures for the assessment of dimensions of violence against women: A compendium. Available online at: http://www.svri.org/measures.pdf (The ATRV appears on pages 23-24).

Items of the Attitudes Toward Rape Victims Scale

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

1. A raped woman is a less desirable woman.

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

3. * A raped woman is usually an innocent victim.

4. Women often claim rape to protect their reputations.

5. * “Good” girls are as likely to be raped as “bad” girls.

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

7. *Women do not provoke rape by their appearance or behavior.

8. Intoxicated women are usually willing to have sex.

9. It would do some women good to be raped.

10. *Even women who feel guilty about engaging in premarital sex are not likely to claim rape falsely.

11. Most women secretly desire to be raped.

12. *Any female may be raped.

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

14. Many women invent rape stories if they learn they are pregnant.

15. *Men‚ not women‚ are responsible for rape.

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

17. Many women claim rape if they have consented to sexual relations but have changed their minds afterwards.

18. Accusations of rape by bar girls‚ dance hostesses and prostitutes should be viewed with suspicion.

19. *A woman should not blame herself for rape.

20. A healthy woman can successfully resist a rapist if she really tries.

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

22. *Women who wear short skirts or tight blouses are not inviting rape.

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

24. Sexually experienced women are not really damaged by rape.

25. In most cases when a woman was raped she deserved it.

*Items are reversed scored.