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Abstract

At least 85% of rapes and attempted rapes of college women are perpetrated by nonstrangers, and more than 50% occur on dates. This study developed a set of scales measuring college women's susceptibility to date and acquaintance rape (DAR). Preliminary DAR scales and three convergent/discriminant validity scales were included in a questionnaire completed by 374 dormitory residents. Three reliable DAR scales emerged: Perceived Vulnerability, Self-Efficacy, and Self-Determination, as well as one marginally reliable scale: Victim-Blaming. Five of six predicted correlations between pairs of DAR scales were supported. Three of five hypothesized correlations between DAR scales and convergent/discriminant validity scales were supported. The DAR scales show promise as measures of women's susceptibility to DAR and as useful tools in rape prevention education.

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Date and Acquaintance Rape

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