Using Experimental Paradigms to Examine Alcohol’s Role in Men’s Sexual Aggression

Abstract

The goals of this article are to review the major findings from alcohol administration studies that use sexual aggression proxies and to encourage additional experimental research that evaluates hypotheses about the role of alcohol in the etiology of men’s sexual aggression. Experiments allow participants to be randomly assigned to drink conditions, therefore ensuring that any differences between drinkers and nondrinkers can be attributed to their alcohol consumption. One of the biggest challenges faced by experimental researchers is the identification of valid operationalizations of key constructs. The tension between internal and external validity is particularly problematic for violence researchers because they cannot allow participants to engage in the target behavior in the laboratory. The strengths and limitations associated with written vignettes, audiotapes, videotapes, and confederate proxies for sexual aggression are described. Suggestions are made for future research to broaden the generalizability of the findings from experimental research.

Review of Survey and Experimental Research That Examines the Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption and Men’s Sexual Aggression Perpetration

“…The major challenge in experimental research is to develop a proxy for sexual aggression that evokes the thoughts, feelings, and actions that participants would experience in a natural situation (see Abbey & Wegner, in press for further discussion of proxy development). Alcohol administration studies have used three types of proxies: written vignettes, videotapes, and audiotapes.…”

Men’s responses to women’s sexual refusals: Development and construct validity of a virtual dating simulation of sexual aggression.

“…A major challenge for experimental studies is determining optimal ways to operationalize sexual aggression. Two basic types of sexual aggression proxies have been used in past experimental research: sexual assault scenarios and confederates (see Abbey & Wegner, 2015 and Davis et al, 2014 for reviews). The following sections of this paper describe characteristics and challenges associated with each type.…”

Dangerous Liaisons: The Role of Hookups and Heavy Episodic Drinking in College Sexual Victimization

“…Women's vulnerability within these settings also reflects the effects of men's intoxication. Men's alcohol consumption has been associated with increased likelihood of sexually aggressive behavior in experimental and daily diary studies (Abbey & Wegner, 2015;Neal & Fromme, 2007).…”