The Influence of Moral Intuitions on Americans' Divergent Reactions to Reports of Sexual Assault and Harassment. Issue 21 (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Silver, Eric; Silver, Stacy
• Is Part Of: Journal of interpersonal violence. Volume 37:Issue 21/22(2022)
• Page Start: NP20040
• Page End: NP20064
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: sexual assault -- sexual harassment -- moral foundations theory -- moral intuitions -- victim blaming -- victim responsibility -- rape myths; Violence -- Periodicals; Sex crimes -- Periodicals; Violence -- Périodiques; Crimes sexuels -- Périodiques; 364.15
• DOI: 10.1177/08862605211050102
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0886-2605

Abstract

Drawing on insights from moral psychology, we examine the influence of moral intuitions on Americans' divergent reactions to reports of sexual assault and harassment. We hypothesize that Americans whose moral intuitions emphasize care and protection of the vulnerable will show a greater willingness to believe reports of sexual assault and harassment, while those whose moral intuitions emphasize social order and cohesion will show greater skepticism toward such reports. Using data from a nationally representative sample of USA adults ( N =1050), we find strong support for both hypotheses. We also find that the influence of moral intuitions on reactions to reports of sexual assault and harassment is partially mediated by respondents' willingness to attribute responsibility to victims of sex crimes. Our results hold when females and males are examined separately. The study provides compelling evidence that a moral intuitionist approach is useful for understanding Americans' divergent reactions to reports of sexual assault and harassment.