Sexual Violence Victim-Survivors Are Seen as Less Likable, Regardless of Observer Gender or Sexual Victimization History

Dozens of studies have found that men and individuals without a history of sexual violence tend to endorse more rape myths, including being more likely to blame sexual violence victim-survivors and see them as less credible. Less is known regarding individual differences in other stigmatizing attitudes, such as whether victim-survivors are seen as less likable. We investigated relations between observer gender and sexual victimization history and ratings of victim-survivor likability across two preexisting studies of six total samples. University students in the United States and community members (Study 1 N = 760) read experimental vignettes describing experiences of sexual violence and other less stigmatized traumatic events (e.g., car accident) and answered several questions, including the likability of the individuals described in the vignettes. Study 2 (N = 1,112) replicated the analysis used in Study 1 in a new sample. We preregistered the hypothesis that women and individuals with a sexual violence history would rate sexual violence victim-survivors as more likable than would men and individuals without a history of sexual violence. Linear regression and mixed effect models were conducted to test hypotheses. Most effects related to gender and sexual violence history were nonsignificant. In exploratory analyses, victim-survivors of sexual violence were rated as less likable than individuals who had experienced other forms of trauma regardless of rater gender or sexual violence history, although this effect was slightly less pronounced for younger individuals and those with a history of sexual violence. Across two studies, the most consistent findings were that participant gender did not predict likability ratings and that victim-survivors of sexual violence were rated as less likable than those who had experienced other traumas.