NCJ Number
219741
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 22 Issue: 6 Dated: August 2007 Pages: 475-485
Date Published
August 2007
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effects of alcohol on women's recognition of and response to sexual aggression in interaction with dating partners, as well as the influence of the women's beliefs about the effects of alcohol on sexual behavior.
Abstract
The study found that among the 103 female college students, those who consumed alcohol and held strong pre-existing beliefs about alcohol's effects on sexual behavior tended to be less able to mount a resistant response to cues of sexual aggression by a dating partner. The women who believed that alcohol acted to increase sexual risk-taking, enhance sexual experience, and disinhibit sexual behavior engaged in fewer refusal responses under the influence of alcohol when confronted with a dating partner's sexual aggression. No significant relationships were found between alcohol consumption and delayed perception of cues for sexual aggression by a dating partner. This was also the case for beliefs about the effects of alcohol on sexual behavior. Future research should focus on the mechanisms by which beliefs about alcohol's influence on sexual behavior and sexual risk-taking affect responses to sexual aggression while the potential victim is under the influence of alcohol. The women listened to an audiotape date rape vignette and were asked to press a button when the man's sexual advances had gone too far. Upon pressing the button, the tape was stopped and the women were instructed to imagine themselves in the same situation and describe what they would say and/or do. Groups were distinguished and compared according to no alcohol consumption, measured levels of alcohol consumption, and beliefs about the influence of alcohol on sexual behaviors with and without the influence of alcohol. 2 tables and 41 references