Browsing by Author "Makardoij, Seema"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The role of personality in predicting rape myth acceptance.
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Makardoij, Seema; Kafaar, Zuhayr; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Department of Psychology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: According to the existing literature, personality traits have not been utilised to predict rape myth acceptance among non-convicted aggressors or non-aggressors. As the majority of rape victims are known to be women, researchers have favoured the research of female rape myths. However, incidents involving male rape victims are less well known, and opinions toward the acceptance of male rape myths have not been given as much attention as those toward female rape myth acceptance. A sample was drawn from the Stellenbosch student population using non-probability sampling: Convenience and quota sampling methods. The majority of respondents being female from urban areas and within the age range of 17 to 25 years. The aim of my research was to employ a cross-sectional quantitative research design to measure and decipher whether the independent variables, personality traits (openness, agreeableness, extraversion, conscientiousness, and neuroticism), are related to or predict rape myth acceptance, and to determine whether gender plays a role in predicting rape myth acceptance for both male and female victims of rape. In order to determine whether males or females reported higher levels on the Big Five Inventory (BFI) and Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance (IRMA) scales, descriptive statistics, such as the mean scores of age and gender, were conducted. Multiple linear regression was used to analyse the data and assess whether BFI and gender can predict RMA. The acceptance of the Big Five personality characteristic dimensions and rape myths was compared between males and females using a t-test to determine if there was a statistically significant difference. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to explain the female rape myth score based on gender, agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism, and openness. A significant regression equation was found, (6, 578) = 22.014, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.178, indicating that personality traits predict rape myth acceptance for female victims. The regression coefficient (B = .110, 95% CI [.085, .134], p < .001) indicated that an increase in one point on gender corresponded, on average, to an increase in the score on the IRMA by 0.110 points. This means that the average IRMA score for males is 0.110 higher than for females in the adherence to female rape myths. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to explain the male rape myth score based on gender, agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism, and openness. A significant regression equation was found, (6, 578) = .12630, p < 0.001, R 2 = 0.155. Indicating that personality traits predict rape myth acceptance for males. The regression coefficient (B = https://scholar.sun.ac.za iii 0.090, 95% CI [.067, .114], p < 0.001) indicated that an increase in one point on gender corresponded, on average, to an increase in the score on the Male Rape Myth scale (MRMS) by 0.090 points. This means that the average MRMS score for males is 0.090 higher than for females in the adherence to male rape myths. These findings add to literature on the role that personality traits play in predicting rape myth acceptance and gender differences in their perception of rape myth acceptance for both male and female victims.