The purpose of this study is to explore how biases against individuals with major depressive disorder predict victim blaming in the context of a date rape. We expect that people will have more negative perceptions of a rape victim with a mental illness, specifically major depressive disorder, as compared to a rape victim without a mental illness – an effect in line with a great deal of research regarding negative biases against the mentally ill (Aromaa, Tolvanen, Tuulari, & Wahlbeck, 2010; Monteith & Pettit, 2011). We also expect that as social dominance orientation scores increase, participants will be more likely to endorse rape myths (e.g., female rape victims encourage assault or deserve to be victims). Further, we expect that as depression bias scores increase, participants will be less likely to believe a depressed victim\u27s testimony (as compared to a non-depressed victim\u27s testimony), resulting in increased attributions of victim blame. As a result, we hypothesize that participants who score high on the social dominance orientation scale and depression bias scale will be less likely to convict an alleged rape perpetrator, particularly when the victim is depressed. Finally, in line with existing research, we expect women to be more likely to convict a rapist than men – an effect driven by women\u27s sympathetic attitudes toward rape victims.
Currently, the data is pending, but we have IRB approval and data collection is currently underway. We will have analyses ready to present at the conference
