The Identification of Dangerous Sexual Beliefs Ashley Ubelhor Jacquelyn Wesseler Hanover College

What is Sexual Assault? Forced sexual activities Forced sexual activities –Lack of consent –Coercion 1 in 4 women 1 in 4 women –1 in 10 men –College-age women

Research Question Are certain sexual beliefs more dangerous (more likely to lead to sexual assault)? Are certain sexual beliefs more dangerous (more likely to lead to sexual assault)?

Operationally Defining Dangerous Beliefs For men: More likely to be held by those who report some likelihood of committing sexual assault than those who report no likelihood For men: More likely to be held by those who report some likelihood of committing sexual assault than those who report no likelihood –Behavioral intent to rape (Malamuth, 1991) For women: More likely to be held by survivors than non-survivors of sexual assault For women: More likely to be held by survivors than non-survivors of sexual assault

Previous Research Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (Burt, 1980) Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (Burt, 1980) Multiple themes (Lonsway and Fitzgerald, 1994) Multiple themes (Lonsway and Fitzgerald, 1994) –Denial of existence –Denial of seriousness –Blaming the victim Aversiveness of rape (Hamilton and Yee, 1990) Aversiveness of rape (Hamilton and Yee, 1990)

Method Participants Participants –230 (79 male, 151 female) –Average age: Females 21.6 Females 21.6 Males 23.4 Males 23.4 Online survey Online survey

Surveys 29 items 29 items Established scales Established scales –3 beliefs: victim blame, equating rape with sex, and machismo Men: Intent to rape Men: Intent to rape –If you could be assured of not being caught or punished, how likely would you be to rape? –…force a woman to engage in sexual contact? Women: Sexual assault experiences Women: Sexual assault experiences

Victim Blame t (72)=3.95, p<.01 Cronbach’s Alpha=.74

Equating Rape with Sex t (72)=3.41, p<.01 Cronbach’s Alpha=.77

Machismo t (72)=3.40, p<.01 Cronbach’s Alpha=.75

Dangerous Beliefs for Women? Is there a relationship between sexual assault experience and beliefs? Is there a relationship between sexual assault experience and beliefs? –No, victims of sexual assault do not report different levels of RMA than non-victims.

Conclusions Are certain sexual beliefs more dangerous to hold? Are certain sexual beliefs more dangerous to hold? –Acceptance of certain beliefs do show greater intentions. Cannot assume cause and effect Cannot assume cause and effect –Intention  Belief ? –Intention  Belief ?

Application Need for sexual assault prevention programs targeting men Need for sexual assault prevention programs targeting men Men’s Program Men’s Program –Peer educators –Empathy-based model

Questions?

Survey Items Victim Blame Victim Blame –Many women have an unconscious wish to be raped, and may then unconsciously set up a situation in which they are likely to be attacked. Equating Rape with Sex Equating Rape with Sex –Men rape for sexual pleasure. –Raped women enjoy the sexual part of rape.

Survey Items Machismo Machismo –No matter what people say, women really like men to dominate them. Sexual Experiences Survey Sexual Experiences Survey –Have you been in a situation in which a man used continual arguments and pressure to overwhelm you into having sexual intercourse when you didn’t want to?

Intent Yes – 22 (28%) Yes – 22 (28%) No – 56 (72%) No – 56 (72%)