Meta-cognition and locus of control in university students in context of viewpoint to rape

Abstract

Rape is one of the traumatic factors that has pervasive and devastating consequences. Unlike many other major traumatic situations the concept of “rape” is controversial and prone to various myths and gender-related perceptual biases. On the other hand it is important to detect possible cognitive-based factors rendering people more prone to adopt those biases and myths. 95 subjects (49 male and 45 female) with an average age of 19 were given Meta-cognitive Awareness Inventory, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Attitudes About Rape Victims Scale and Internal-External Locus of Control Scale. Our results indicate that negative attitudes about rape victims and stereotypic thoughts aboutrape is closely related to meta-cognitive awareness level and self-esteem as well as locus of control.