Evaluative Attitudes May Explain the Link Between Injunctive Norms and Sexual Aggression

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052092630
Author(s):  
Chloe I. Pedneault ◽  
Kevin L. Nunes ◽  
Chantal A. Hermann ◽  
Kristen White
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Sexual Aggression ◽  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Injunctive Norms ◽  
Sexually Aggressive ◽  
Male Undergraduate ◽  
The Future ◽  
History Of

The current study examined the extent to which evaluative attitudes toward sexual aggression (i.e., positive or negative evaluative judgments about sexually aggressive behavior) mediate the association between injunctive norms (i.e., extent to which peers approve or disapprove of sexually aggressive behavior) and self-reported sexual aggression against women. Participants were 200 male undergraduate students. Approximately one in four males reported engaging in at least one sexually aggressive act since the age of 16. Participants with a history of sexual aggression also reported the highest likelihood of engaging in sexually aggressive behavior in the future. We tested two separate mediation models to examine the extent to which evaluative attitudes account for the link between injunctive norms and sexual aggression: one model with self-reported history of sexual aggression as the outcome and the other with likelihood of engaging in sexually aggressive behavior as the outcome. Results showed that more positive evaluative attitudes toward sexual aggression accounted for the association between injunctive norms and self-reported history of sexual aggression. Similarly, evaluative attitudes accounted for the link between injunctive norms and self-reported likelihood of engaging in sexually aggressive behavior in the future. Overall, these findings are consistent with theoretical and empirical explanations of sexual offending and general criminal behavior; however, this is the first study to explore the relationship between injunctive norms and evaluative attitudes in the context of explaining sexually aggressive behavior. If more rigorous research establishes a causal relationship between injunctive norms, evaluative attitudes, and sexually aggressive behavior, this would suggest that targeting these factors in prevention programs may reduce sexual aggression by male undergraduate students.

Attitude May Be Everything, But Is Everything an Attitude? Cognitive Distortions May Not Be Evaluations of Rape

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin L. Nunes ◽  
Chantal A. Hermann ◽  
Kristen White ◽  
Cathrine Pettersen ◽  
Kurt Bumby
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Cognitive Distortions ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Sexually Aggressive ◽  
Distinct Factor ◽  
Male Undergraduate ◽  
The Social ◽  
Theory Research

Cognitive distortions are often referred to as attitudes toward rape in theory, research, and clinical practice pertaining to sexual aggression. In the social-psychological literature, however, attitudes are typically defined as evaluations; thus, in this context, attitudes toward rape are considered evaluations of rape (e.g., rape is negative vs. positive). The purpose of the current study was to explore whether a widely used measure of cognitive distortions (RAPE Scale; Bumby, 1996) assesses evaluation of rape, and, if not, whether evaluation of rape and the cognitions assessed by the RAPE Scale are independently associated with sexually aggressive behavior. Participants (660 male undergraduate students) completed the RAPE Scale as well as measures of evaluation of rape and sexually aggressive behavior. An exploratory factor analysis revealed that the RAPE Scale items formed a correlated but distinct factor from the Evaluation of Rape Scale items. Regression analyses indicated that the Evaluation of Rape Scale and the RAPE Scale had small to moderate independent associations with self-report measures of sexually aggressive behavior. Our results suggest that evaluation of rape may be distinct from cognitive distortions regarding rape, and both evaluation and cognitive distortions may be relevant for understanding sexual violence.

scholarly journals Characteristics and associated factors of self-disclosed sexual aggression in a national representative sample of Belgian adults aged 16-69

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Schapansky ◽  
Ines Keygnaert ◽  
Christophe Vandeviver
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
Sexual Aggression ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Sexual Offences ◽  
Sexually Aggressive ◽  
Hands On ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Given ◽  
National Representative Sample

Sexual violence is a major public health, societal, and judicial problem worldwide. Studies investigating the characteristics of its offenders often rely on samples of convicted offenders, which are then biased by low reporting and conviction rates of sexual offences. The reliability of self-report studies of undetected sexual offenders, however, is threatened by underreporting of sexually aggressive acts. Despite these limitations, we argue that it is important to publish available data on self-disclosed sexual aggression to learn more about those who are more likely to report own sexual aggression and to further improve self-report methods. Based on a self-report study conducted in a representative sample (n = 4,693) of the Belgian general population aged 16 to 69, we provide lifetime and past-year prevalence rates of sexual aggression and report the characteristics of the events, including type, target, and the applied coercion strategies. A logistic regression analysis revealed factors associated with self-disclosed sexual aggression. Almost 4% of all participants reported at least one incident of hands-on sexual aggression. Men were more likely than women to report sexual aggression (aOR: 5.33 (95% CI:3.62-7.86). Furthermore, a history of sexual victimization was associated with sexual aggression. In most cases, the target was an (ex)partner or friend. About 4 in 5 perpetrators indicated that none of the given coercion strategies (i.e., force, threat, verbal pressure, or exploiting the victim’s incapacitation or the own position of authority) applied to the incident. Further research is needed to clarify under which circumstances sexual aggression occurs and which factors increase reporting thereof.

Pornography, Masculinity, and Sexual Aggression on College Campuses

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052090618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brooke A. de Heer ◽  
Sarah Prior ◽  
Gia Hoegh
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Sexual Aggression ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
College Campuses ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Sexually Aggressive ◽  
Pornography Consumption

Past research has indicated that there is a relationship between pornography consumption and sexually aggressive behavior. This study sought to expand an understanding of that relationship by examining measures of masculinity among a sample of undergraduate heterosexual males ( N = 152) along with pornography consumption variables to assess the predictive value that both pornography consumption and varying levels of masculinity have on sexual aggression. Linear regression analyses indicate that males who had higher scores on the Likelihood of Sexual Force (LSF) measure consumed pornography more often and were more likely to watch male-dominant pornography. In addition, males who had higher scores on LSF exhibited higher masculinity scores on two scales. Results are discussed in the context of the complexities of masculinity and pornography consumption and the implications for prevention programs on college campuses.

The Influence Of Misogynous Rap Music On Sexual Aggression Against Women

1995 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christy Barongan ◽  
Gordon C. Nagayama Hall
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Sexual Aggression ◽  
Rap Music ◽  
Cognitive Distortions ◽  
Neutral Condition ◽  
Sexually Aggressive ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Female Confederate

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of cognitive distortions concerning women on sexually aggressive behavior in the laboratory. Twenty-seven men listened to misogynous rap music and 27 men listened to neutral rap music. Participants then viewed neutral, sexual-violent, and assaultive film vignettes and chose one of the vignettes to show to a female confederate. Among the participants in the misogynous music condition, 30% showed the assaultive vignette and 70% showed the neutral vignette. In the neutral condition, 7% showed the sexual-violent or assaultive vignette and 93% showed the neutral vignette. Participants who showed the sexual-violent or assaultive stimuli reported that the confederate was more upset and uncomfortable in viewing these stimuli than did participants who showed the neutral vignette. These findings suggest that misogynous music facilitates sexually aggressive behavior and support the relationship between cognitive distortions and sexual aggression.

Disentangling Cognitions About Sexual Aggression

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 107906322098106
Author(s):  
Chloe I. Pedneault ◽  
Chantal A. Hermann ◽  
Kevin L. Nunes
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Attitude Change ◽  
Sexual Aggression ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cognitive Distortions ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sexually Aggressive ◽  
Distinct Factor

We examined the extent to which evaluative attitudes toward sexual aggression are distinct from other cognitions regarding sexually aggressive behavior. Evaluative attitudes toward sexual aggression refer to the extent to which sexual aggression is viewed negatively or positively. In a secondary analysis of online survey data from 495 community men, exploratory factor analysis revealed that items from a measure of evaluative attitudes formed a distinct factor from items designed to measure cognitive distortions regarding rape. These findings suggest that evaluative attitudes may be distinct from cognitive distortions. Furthermore, hierarchical regression analyses indicated that evaluative attitudes explained unique variance in self-reported past sexual aggression, proclivity for sexually aggressive behavior, and likelihood to rape. If future research finds support for a causal relationship between evaluative attitudes and sexual aggression, well-established evaluative-attitude-change procedures from the social psychological literature could be adapted to address evaluative attitudes toward sexual aggression in interventions aimed at reducing sexually aggressive behavior.

scholarly journals The Impact of History of Aggression and Alcohol Use on Aggressive: Responding in the Laboratory

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 117822181988432
Author(s):  
Kathrin Ritter ◽  
Samantha J Lookatch ◽  
Megan R Schmidt ◽  
Todd M Moore
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Higher Alcohol ◽  
Male Undergraduate ◽  
High Aggression ◽  
Aggression Questionnaire ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Online Measures

The current study examines how different levels of past aggression combined with self-reported levels of alcohol use impacted lab-based aggressive responding. Data were collected from 160 male undergraduate college students. Participants completed online measures of drinking (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and past aggression (Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire) prior to a lab session assessing aggressive responding [Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm (PSAP)]. Regression analyses revealed participants with “high” levels of past alcohol use and a history of “high” aggression were more likely to respond aggressively on the PSAP, a trend primarily driven by those with a history of physical aggression. For proactively aggressive participants, the risk for aggressive responding is greater in individuals with a history of physically aggressive behavior as they report higher alcohol use, relative to those “low” in past aggression. The interaction of alcohol use and past aggression was associated with continued aggressive behavior.

The Role of Blame, Distress, and Anger in the Hypermasculine Man

1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kala Downs ◽  
Steven R. Gold
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Relational Theory ◽  
Female Partner ◽  
Masculine Identity ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Sexually Aggressive ◽  
History Of ◽  
Personality Pattern

Research has demonstrated an association between the hypermasculine personality pattern and a history of sexually aggressive behavior. This study was conducted to examine emotions experienced by hypermasculine or macho men when prevented from attaining a goal relevant to their sense of attractiveness and sexuality by a woman. It was hypothesized that macho males would respond to high and moderate threats to their masculine identity with greater blame and anger than nonmacho males. Macho men’s blame was hypothesized to mediate the transformation of negative emotions such as distress into anger. After screening with the Hypermasculinity Inventory, 34 high hypermasculine and 36 low hypermasculine men were assigned to one of three experimental conditions in which the feedback received from a female partner was either highly threatening, moderately threatening, or neutral in nature. Measures of emotion and blame were collected after the men received their feedback. Results of the study indicated that macho and nonmacho men differed only in the moderate threat condition. Macho men in this condition reported greater anger yet less blame than the nonmacho men. The pattern of results is most consistent with Berkowitz’s cognitive-neoassociationistic model of emotion, which does not require blame for anger to occur, as does Lazarus’s cognitive-motivational-relational theory of emotion. Results of the study suggest that anger in macho men is associated with the level of surprise in a situation.

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