Why are men more likely to endorse myths about child sexual abuse than women? Evidence from disposition and situation-based approaches
Miniatura indisponível
Data
2021
Título da revista
ISSN da revista
Título do Volume
Editora
Resumo
Research on attitudes toward Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) consistently shows that men are more likely to endorse myths about CSA events, victims and perpetrators, compared to women. Here we present two studies that examine why these gender differences occur. Study one (N = 439) followed a dispositional approach to test the mediating role of empathy, social dominance (SDO) and propensity for moral disengagement in the association between gender and the endorsement of CSA myths. Male participants showed higher levels of SDO and propensity for moral disengagement, and lower empathy, which in turn were associated with greater CSA myths acceptance. Study two (N = 360) followed a situational approach to test these processes using a specific case of CSA. Male participants showed higher levels of SDO and lower empathy, which in turn were associated with lower scores of perceived assault seriousness, victim credibility, perpetrator culpability, and greater victim culpability. Overall, the results suggest that men and women may appraise CSA differently, which can be partly explained by differences in SDO, propensity to morally disengage, and empathy. Furthermore, different cognitive mechanisms may be activated with regard to general appraisals of CSA compared to specific cases of CSA.
Descrição
Child Maltreatment. Advance online publication
Palavras-chave
PSICOLOGIA, ABUSO SEXUAL DE CRIANÇAS, GÉNERO, GRUPOS DE RISCO, PSYCHOLOGY, SEXUAL CHILD ABUSE, GENDER, RISK GROUPS
Citação
Magalhães, E., Graça. J., Antunes, C., & Ferreira, C. (2021). Why are men more likely to endorse myths about child sexual abuse than women? Evidence from disposition and situation-based approaches. Child Maltreatment. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559520988353