Investigation of Attitude Change in a Rape Prevention Program

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of previously held rape myth attitudes and the accessibility of those attitudes on attitude change produced by a videotape previously used in successful rape prevention programs. Participants were 151 volunteering undergraduate males at a large southern university. Analyses revealed that participants were consistent in their responding over time. These findings argued that the data were reliable. Consistent with previous research, it was found that a commercially available videotape designed to reduce rape myth attitudes was effective. Rape myth attitudes were lower at both the immediate and the subsequent (2 weeks) assessments. The variables of Attitude Accessibility and previously held Rape Myth Attitude Levels were hypothesized to be related to both attitude change and memory for the material designed to change attitudes. However, although rape myth attitudes were lowered, the effect was unrelated to previously held Rape Myth Attitude Level or Attitude Accessibility.