Comparison of gender and victim response to violence in popular movies

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Abstract
The overwhelming statistics of crime against women affect their perceptions and quality of life. The media have a significant effect on both perceptions and behavior. The manner, therefore, in which fictional victims are portrayed could affect perceptions of control in real‐life women fearing victimization and in their potential assailants. Popular crime‐drama movies and the difference between male and female behaviors were examined in this pilot study. A total of 65 responses were evaluated from a random sample of film videos. Active attempts to gain control were exhibited by 81 % of the male responses, whereas only 17% of the women did so, χ2 (1, N = 65) = 28.99, p < .001. The relationship of results and myths concerning women as victims is discussed.