Psychology Thesis Defense
Zoom https://umassd.zoom.us/j/92937452108?pwd=Rhgy4Oazkzy7EhL22Kn7USgyow0i0j.1
Raina Lamade, Ph.D., ABPP
508-999-8761
rlamade@umassd.edu
https://umassd.zoom.us/j/92937452108?pwd=Rhgy4Oazkzy7EhL22Kn7USgyow0i0j.1
Thesis Defense Announcement
Target Audience: Faculty and Staff
Category: Thesis Defense
Title of Defense: Master’s Thesis Defense by Jessica S. Santos
Date of Defense: 9/8/26 3pm
Location: Zoom https://umassd.zoom.us/j/92937452108?pwd=Rhgy4Oazkzy7EhL22Kn7USgyow0i0j.1
Start time of Defense: 3pm
Title of Paper: An Exploratory Pilot Study: Measuring Rape Labeling and the Relationship between Social Support, Rape Myths, and Labeling Accuracy in Women
Abstract:
Rape labeling involves both how individuals interpret sexual violence and how accurately they identify legally defined rape and sexual assault. The present exploratory pilot study examined how social support, rape myth endorsement, and sexual conservatism were associated with rape labeling and labeling accuracy when outcomes were measured continuously and dichotomously. Different ways of measuring both rape and sexual assault labeling and accuracy were examined. Participants were 241 women who completed measures of rape myth acceptance and sexual conservatism and evaluated vignettes depicting rape and sexual assault scenarios with validating or invalidating social support responses. Findings revealed differences between labeling sexual assault and rape. Support type did not significantly predict labeling but was associated with greater accuracy on several measures. Sexual conservatism and the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance “Not Really Rape” subscale were the most consistent predictors of incorrect labeling and poorer accuracy. Contrary to the study’s hypothesis, the “She Lied” subscale of the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance scale predicted greater accuracy. Overall, findings suggest that participants were better at identifying sexual assault than rape, and that rape myth endorsement and sexual conservatism may play important roles in the recognition of sexual violence. Results and suggestions of different accuracy measures will be discussed.
Advisor: Raina V. Lamade, Ph.D., ABPP
Committee Members: R. Thomas Boone, Ph.D. and Mahzad Hojjat, Ph.D.
Contact Email: rlamade@umassd.edu