NCJ Number
173243
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: Fall 1995 Pages: 217-226
Date Published
1995
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study examines the effects of a personality construct called hypermasculinity and anger on sexual aggression.
Abstract
One hundred and thirty-seven undergraduate males enrolled in an introductory psychology course at a large midwestern university completed hypermasculinity, anger, and past sexual aggression measures. Subjects who scored in the upper and lower thirds on the hypermasculinity measure were then randomly assigned to guided imagery conditions in which they received negative, neutral, or positive feedback from a woman. Hypermasculine men who received negative feedback responded with more anger and less empathy than nonhypermasculine men. In addition, those who scored high on both anger and hypermasculine measures were most likely to self-report that they had engaged in sexually aggressive acts. The article discusses study results in terms of hypermasculine men's increased risk of sexually aggressive behavior. However, further research is needed to help explain which of high-hypermasculine menþs characteristics (arousal, cognitive, personality, or affective) is most important in the ultimate release of sexual aggression, so that effective treatment may be developed. Tables, notes, references