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Briggs, Kathleen; Hubbs-Tait, Laura; Culp, Rex E.; Blankemeyer, Maureen

Perceiver bias in expectancies for sexually abused children

Family Relations: Journal of Applied Family & Child Studies, 44 (3), 291-298 (1995)

Abstract

College students (N = 134) judged children in vignettes. Vignettes varied on child gender and family history label (sexually abused, mother dying of cancer, normal). Perceiver bias was confirmed. Sexually abused children were expected to have more behavior problems than children whose mothers had terminal cancer. When acquaintance with victims of sexual abuse was controlled, male and female respondents' perceptions did not differ. However, perceptions of female sexual abuse victims were more biased than perceptions of male victims.