Sexual Aggression: Perceptions of Its Likelihood of Occurring and Some Correlates of Self-Admitted Perpetration

Abstract

175 college undergraduate students completed a questionnaire which contained dating scenarios and questions designed to assess the participants' perceptions about the likelihood that sexual aggression would occur in the described dating situations and how justified sexual aggression would be in those situations. Also included were items to assess self-admitted sexual aggression, self-reported sexual victimization, attitudes toward certain affectionate behaviors, and enjoyment of several magazines including the "soft-core" sexually oriented publication Playboy. Analysis indicated that women made significantly higher estimates of the chances of sexual aggression occurring in the described dating situations. Relative to nonvictimized women, victimized women gave significantly higher estimates of the likelihood of sexual aggression and believed that sexual aggression was significantly more justified. Men rated sexual aggression as significantly more justified in a relationship in which the male had been paying all dating expenses relative to one in which dating expenses were shared. Women's ratings were not significantly different. Also, correlates of self-admitted male sexual aggression included greater rated enjoyment of Playboy magazine and less agreement with an item designed to measure attitudes toward physical affection.

Toward a Developmental Taxonomy of Adult Sexual Aggressors of Women: Antisocial Trajectories in Youth, Mating Effort, and Sexual Criminal Activity in Adulthood

“…Considering that (a) most of these studies involve samples of college undergraduates, and (b) the fact that such samples are unlikely to include early starters (Moffitt et al, 2002), these results suggest that late starters are characterized by high mating effort as well. For example, empirical studies with college students indicate that sexually coercive males are more likely to report a more extensive sexual history (Byers & Eno, 1991); have more sexual partners and higher self-perceived mating success ; exhibit a preference for partner variety, uncommitted sexual relationships, and fewer intimate relationships (Cornett & Shuntich, 1991); are more likely to view dating in terms of sexual possibilities (Craig, Kalichman, & Follingstad, 1989); and exhibit a preference for a greater amount of sexual activity (Lalumière & Quinsey).…”