Rape perpetrators on trial: The effect of sexual assault-related schemas on attributions of blame

Research has consistently shown that jurors are influenced by a number stereotypes in cases of alleged sexual assault, including offence stereotypes and victim stereotypes. These stereotypes appear to be organised in a hierarchy, as victim stereotypicality seems to matter most in acquaintance assaults (stereotypical offence). This research has, however, overlooked the possible role of stereotypes about perpetrators, despite consistent evidence for the influence of perpetrator-related stereotypes across a range of different crime types. As such, the current research aimed to build on the existing hierarchical schema model by systematically examining the influence of perpetrator stereotypes. This study (N = 160) examined the effects offence stereotypicality (stereotypical, counter-stereotypical), victim stereotypicality (stereotypical, counter-stereotypical) and perpetrator stereotypicality (stereotypical, counter-stereotypical) on mock jurors’ perceptions about a sexual assault scenario. As expected, victim stereotypicality had a greater effect on perceptions in the counter-stereotypical offence, with the victim being seen more positively and the perpetrator more negatively when the victim was stereotypical. Contrary to expectations, perpetrator stereotypicality did not influence perceptions in the stereotypical offence scenario. However, there is some evidence to suggest that perceptions about the stereotypicality of the offence, the victim and the perpetrator may influence one another, as well as perceptions of consent. These findings have important implications for how we address the influence of juror-held schemas on attributions of blame in cases of sexual assault