Validity for an Integrated Laboratory Analogue of Sexual Aggression and Bystander Intervention

Abstract

This study sought to develop and validate an integrated laboratory paradigm of sexual aggression and bystander intervention. Participants were a diverse community sample (54% African American) of heterosexual males (N = 156) between 21 and 35 years of age who were recruited to complete the study with a male friend and an ostensibly single, heterosexual female who reported a strong dislike of sexual content in the media. Participants viewed a sexually explicit or nonsexually explicit film clip as part of contrived media rating task and made individual choices of which film clip to show the female confederate. Immediately thereafter, participants were required to reach consensus on a group decision of which film clip to show the female confederate. Subjecting a target to an unwanted experience with a sexual connotation was operationalized as selection of the sexually explicit video, whereas successful bystander intervention was operationalized as the event of one partner individually selecting the sexually explicit video but then selecting the nonsexually explicit video for the group choice. Results demonstrated that a 1-year history of sexual aggression and endorsement of pertinent misogynistic attitudes significantly predicted selection of the sexually-explicit video. In addition, bystander efficacy significantly predicted men's successful prevention of their male peer's intent to show the female confederate a sexually explicit video. Discussion focused on how these data inform future research and bystander intervention programming for sexual aggression.

TakeCARE, a video bystander program to help prevent sexual violence on college campuses: Results of two randomized, controlled trials.

“…For example, it is sensitive only to the occurrence (presence/absence), and not to the frequency or quality of different types of bystander behavior. A more comprehensive assessment of bystander behavior, especially one that utilizes methods that go beyond self-report (Jouriles, Kleinsasser, Rosenfield, & McDonald, 2014; Parrott et al., 2012), might bolster confidence in the results. It would also be worthwhile to expand the measurement of outcomes.…”

Masculinity and bystander attitudes: Moderating effects of masculine gender role stress.

“…The distinct set of hypotheses tested herein utilized data that were drawn from a larger investigation on the effects of alcohol and peers on SA and bystander intervention (Parrott et al, 2012). Thus, although the focus of the present investigation did not examine alcohol-related effects, all participants who presented to the laboratory reported alcohol consumption during the past year (see below).…”

“…Indeed, survey and laboratory-based research demonstrates that bystander efficacy is positively associated with men’s bystander behavior, such that men higher in bystander efficacy are more likely to intervene in SA (Banyard, 2008; Parrott et al, 2012). Bystander efficacy and intervention are distinct constructs, and research on bystander intervention should ideally assess bystander behavior.…”

An actor–partner interdependence model of the Dark Triad and aggression in couples: Relationship duration moderates the link between psychopathy and argumentativeness

“…Because we analyzed couples, we used a series of actor-partner interdependence models (APIMs; Kenny, Kashy, & Cook, 2006). APIMs are a standard way to analyze dyadic data (Brunell et al, 2010;Brunell, Pilkington, & Webster, 2007;Brunell & Webster, 2013;Smith et al, 2014;Webster, Laurenceau, et al, 2015) and are used in aggression research (Crane, Testa, Derrick, & Leonard, 2014;Dickson et al, 2015;Parrott et al, 2012;Watkins, Maldonado, & DiLillo, 2014). APIMs estimate actor and partner effects simultaneously.…”