1. Donnerstein and Berkowitz
“Victim Reactions in Aggressive Erotic Films as a Factor in Violence against Women” (1981)

2. Hypothesis
Sex + violence + positive outcome will be correlated with male subjects’ willingness to aggress against women
Behavior change

3. Design Male subjects are asked to write a short essay
Essay is evaluated by a research confederate (RC) which the subjects believe is another Ss
All are angered by a negative evaluation of 9 electric shocks
Ss see films
G1 sees a neutral film (talk show interview)
G2 sees a purely erotic film
G3 sees sex + violence + positive outcome
G4 sees sex + violence + negative outcome
Subjects are given an opportunity to evaluate RC

4. Results
No significant increased aggression against female RC in G1 and G2 subjects
Aggression against female RC is significant in G3 and G4 subjects
No significant aggression against male RC

5. Follow up experiment
Same design, except only half of the Ss are angered
All RCs are female

6. Results G1 subjects do not engage in aggression against female RCs
Only G3 subjects (angered, positive outcome of the sex + violence) show increased aggression against female RCs