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So.... Not just me

Understanding these forces is crucial for creating a society where survivors can be heard without automatic backlash.

Why This Matters

These biases create environments where:

*victims fear coming forward
*predators are protected
*public perception often contradicts legal or factual outcomes
*accusations are treated as political rather than personal

9. Psychological Defense Against Fear

Believing accusers forces people to accept that:
*sexual violence is common
*someone they respect might be capable of it
*the world is not safe

To avoid this frightening reality, some people unconsciously prefer to deny the accusation.

8. Media Framing

Coverage often:

*lists the accused’s accomplishments
*shows flattering photos of him
*scrutinizes the accuser
*highlights minor inconsistencies
*emphasizes “alleged,” suggesting uncertainty even when evidence is strong

This subtly shifts sympathy toward the accused.

7. Parasocial Relationships With Celebrities

If the accused is a celebrity, politician, influencer, etc., people can feel:

*they “know” him
*loyal to him
*emotionally invested in him

The accuser has no such relationship with the public, which creates an automatic imbalance.

6. Misogyny and Gender Power Dynamics

Research consistently finds:

*women who report sexual violence are scrutinized more harshly
*male-on-female accusations trigger especially strong backlash
*people tend to protect male reputations over female safety

This is a structural, not individual, bias.

5. Fear of Consequences

Some people react as if the accused is most at risk, often expressing sentiments like:

“I’d hate to have my life ruined by an accusation.”

Consequences for sexual misconduct have historically been minimal for perpetrators, this reaction is rooted more in fear than fact.

4. Common Myths

“False accusations are common.” (They are rare - estimated 2–8% in studies.)
“Real victims report immediately” (Most don’t.)
“If there’s no physical injury, it wasn’t real.” (Most assaults do not involve obvious injury.)

These beliefs make people less likely to side with accusers.

“She must be exaggerating.”
“She must have done something.”
“Why didn’t she leave?”
“Why didn’t she report it earlier?”

This bias shifts blame from the perpetrator onto the victim.

3. “Just World” Bias

Many people hold an unconscious belief that:

*“The world is fair; bad things happen only to people who deserve them.”

So when someone alleges sexual violence, a just-world thinker may—without realizing it—start assuming:

2. Status Protects Perception

High-status people are often assumed to be:

*credible
*competent
*trustworthy

This is called the halo effect.
Accusers, especially if not famous, do not get the same automatic benefit of the doubt.

People experience psychological discomfort when hearing they may have done something terrible.

The brain often resolves this discomfort by:

*doubting the accuser
*defending or rationalizing the accused
*minimizing the allegations

This is called cognitive dissonance reduction.

The complicity is staggering.