NCJ Number
210548
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 19 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2004 Pages: 673-688
Date Published
December 2004
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study compared the risk characteristics of sexually coercive and nonoffending male college students.
Abstract
Sexual coercion has been defined to include the use of nonphysical coercive tactics, such as verbal pressure, to gain sexual contact with an unwilling partner. The purpose of the current research was to identify the psychological and behavioral characteristics that may be specifically associated with the use of nonphysical sexually coercive practices. Two samples of college males were recruited from undergraduate psychology courses at a large university; one sample consisted of 81 self-reported sexually coercive males while the other sample included 223 nonoffending males. Self-report questionnaires assessed attitudes and beliefs toward rape, heterosexual relationships, interpersonal violence, and towards women in general; personality factors; childhood abuse; and sexual misconduct. Results of statistical analyses indicated that when compared to nonoffending males, sexual coercers more often subscribed to rape myths, viewed interpersonal violence as more acceptable, held greater hostility toward women, and were more likely to view male-female relationships as inherently adversarial. In terms of risk characteristics, sexual coercers had stronger indicators of promiscuity and delinquency, psychopathic personality traits, and empathic deficits. Sexually coercive males were also more likely to have experienced certain forms of childhood abuse. Implications for sexual misconduct prevention efforts are discussed. Future research should focus on the relationship between sexual coercion and sexual aggression; a longitudinal design is recommended. Figure, Table, references