Rape-Myth Congruent Beliefs in Women Resulting From Exposure in Violent Pornography: Effects of Alcohol and Sexual Arousal

• NCJ Number: 234385
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 21 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2006 Pages: 1208-1223
• Author(s): Kelly Cue Davis; Jeanette Norris; William H. George; Joel Martell; Julia R. Heiman
• Date Published: September 2006
• Length: 16 pages
• Grant Number(s): AA07271
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study assessed women's alcohol use and sexual arousal in response to violent pornography.

Abstract

Previous research findings indicate that women suffer a variety of detrimental effects from exposure to violent pornography. This study used an experimental paradigm to examine the effects of a moderate alcohol dose and alcohol expectancies on women's acute reactions to a violent pornographic stimulus. A community sample of female social drinkers (N = 134) read an eroticized rape depiction after completing an alcohol administration protocol. As predicted, intoxicated participants were less likely to label the depicted events as rape than their sober counterparts. A path analytic model illustrated that participants' self-reported sexual arousal to the stimulus, as influenced by alcohol consumption and expectancies, resulted in increased rape myth congruent perceptions of the victim and decreased labeling of the incident as rape. Findings suggest that acute alcohol intoxication during violent pornography exposure may ultimately result in women developing more calloused attitudes toward rape and rape victims. (Published Abstract)