Why do we blame the victim: personality traits and the just world theory
Publication Date
July 17, 2024
Creator
Abstract
This thesis contributed to the literature base regarding victim blaming by exploring the impact that a belief in a just world (BJW) and the Big Five personality traits have on victim blaming. An empirical study investigated whether there is a difference in victim blame levels towards a victim of cyberstalking who has a high level of online personal disclosure in comparison to a low level of online personal disclosure. Whilst this did not yield a significant difference, significant correlations were found between general BJW, personal BJW, the Big Five personality traits, and victim blaming. Those scoring higher on general BJW were more likely to blame the victim, whilst those scoring higher on agreeableness and openness to experience were less likely to blame the victim. A systematic review further explored the relationship between general BJW and personal BJW and the Big Five personality traits. Personal BJW was found to be predominantly positively correlated with openness to experience, conscientiousness, extroversion, and agreeableness, whilst it was predominantly negatively correlated with neuroticism. General BJW was found to be predominantly positively correlated with conscientiousness, extroversion, and agreeableness, whilst it was predominantly negatively correlated with neuroticism and openness to experience. A single case study is then presented, summarising the assessment and formulation process of a convicted offender displaying victim blaming attitudes. The case study explored his victim blaming attitudes using the BJW theory. Finally, a critique of the Perceptions of Victim Blame – Revised scale (PVBS-R; Cramer et al., 2013) is presented, examining its psychometric properties and clinical utility. The thesis emphasises the importance of considering BJW and the Big Five personality traits and the impact that they have on victim blaming attitudes.
Item Type
ethesis
Thesis Type
DForenPsy
Supervisors
Subjects (LC)
Associated Schools / Departments
School of Medicine
eprints ID
78252
UoN Repository URI
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WHY DO WE BLAME THE VICTIM PERSONALITY TRAITS AND THE JUST WORLD THEORY.pdf
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Full-text
Description
Examined
Size
3.75 MB
Format
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