Do we know it when we see it? How feelings of group-based, rather than personal, entitlement underlie rape myth acceptance and rape labelling.

Dr. Boglárka Nyúl

Those who accept rape myths are more likely to condone and even blame victims of rape. Yet what makes both people endorse such rape myths? The present study examines that feelings of entitlement to sex are related to accepting sexual aggression. We propose that similar feelings of entitlement to sex may also underlie rape acknowledgement. Yet, we suggest there may be an important distinction between previously measured feelings of personal entitlement – outcome for personal reasons – and what we define as group-based entitlement: feeling entitled to an outcome based on one’s group membership and status. We hypothesize that feelings of group-based-, and not personal-, entitlement are related to ideological beliefs such as rape myth acceptance (RMA).

We tested this hypothesis in two online surveys in Hungary. Personal and group-based entitlement (newly constructed scale), RMA, and rape labeling of an ambivalent rape scenario were measured. EFA in Study 1 (N = 482) revealed that both personal and group entitlement was reliable and distinct measure. Path analysis revealed an association between both group-based male entitlement and personal entitlement and rape labeling. As predicted, only the relation between group entitlement and rape labelling was fully mediated by RMA. There was no mediation for personal entitlement. Study 2 (N = 165) conducted in Hungary replicated the results. Results indicate rape labeling and RMA are connected more to group-based processes than intrapersonal ones.

The seminar will take place in our meeting room as well as online via this link.