Discrepancies in Perceived Risk of Sexual Victimization for Self and Others: The Roles of Perpetrator Closeness and Past Victimization

Women are more likely to be raped by an acquaintance than a stranger but are more fearful of stranger rape. We apply the concept of unique invulnerability to explain this paradox. Results indicate that women are aware of the greater risk of acquaintance rape for the general population, but believe that they, and their close friends, are less vulnerable to this threat. However, this perceived invulnerability was reduced among women who had previously experienced sexual assault. Women may believe that their acquaintances are incapable of rape, making them feel uniquely invulnerable to risk patterns impacting the broader population.