Abstract

Two studies examined how the rape victims of a crime committed in the 70s – the so called «Circeo massacre» – were depicted in Italian newspaper articles and whether specific characteristics of the victims, that emerged in newspapers’ description, could affect current victims’ perception. The first exploratory study highlighted how the media placed the responsibility of the crime to the personal and socio-economic characteristics of the victims. The second experimental study (n = 199) showed how the victim’s personality – but not her socioeconomic status – influences victim blaming and availability to help her through the mediation of the attribution of moral virtue. The findings are discussed in terms of victim blaming and secondary victimization