The attitudes of female and male residential care-workers to the perpetrators of sexual and physical assault.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to investigate the attitudes of male and female care-workers to perpetrators of sexual and physical assaults. Hypotheses were: (1) that care-workers would rate sexual assaults to be more serious than physical assaults, rate the perpetrators of sexual assaults to be more dangerous and express less sympathy towards them; and (2) that female care-workers would rate both types of assault to be more serious, perceive the perpetrators to be more dangerous, and express less sympathy, compared to their male counterparts.

METHOD

Male and female residential care-workers were asked to rate their response to vignettes describing either a physical or sexual assault. Vignettes and accompanying questionnaires were distributed to 60 care-workers divided into four groups according to Gender and Type of Assault.

RESULTS

Results supported the hypothesis that sexual assaults are perceived to be more serious than physical assaults and the perpetrators of sexual assaults to be more dangerous. Gender differences in attitudes were also found, with female care-workers perceiving a greater difference between the seriousness of sexual and physical assaults than male care-workers. Female care-workers also rated the perpetrators of either type of assault to be more dangerous than did male care-workers.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that professionals hold different attitudes towards sexual and physical assaults and that gender is an important factor influencing attitudes towards perpetrators of violent assaults. It is of interest and practical importance for future studies to understand the emotional impact and attitudes elicited when working with perpetrators of violence, both in terms of their influence on clinical case work and in determining the personal needs, training, and supervision that should be offered to support professionals engaged in this difficult activity.