The current longitudinal study explored the
extent to which implicit and explicit evaluations of sexual aggression predict
subsequent sexually aggressive behavior. Participants (248 community men
recruited online) completed measures of implicit and explicit evaluations and
self-reported sexually aggressive behavior at two time points, approximately 4
months apart. Implicit and explicit evaluations of sexual aggression at Wave 1
had small significant and independent predictive relationships with sexually aggressive
behavior at Wave 2, while controlling for sexually aggressive behavior at Wave
1. This is the first study to test whether implicit and explicit evaluations predict
subsequent sexually aggressive behavior. Our findings are consistent with the
possibility that both implicit and explicit evaluations may be relevant for
understanding and preventing subsequent sexually aggressive behavior. If these
findings can be replicated, evaluations of sexual aggression should be studied
with more rigorous methodology (e.g., experimental design) and
correctional/forensic populations, and possibly addressed in risk assessment
and interventions.
Could you talk us through
where the idea for the research came from?
Evaluations are an individual’s evaluative thoughts about something such as a person, object, or behavior (e.g., Albarracín, Zanna, Johnson, & Kumkale, 2005; Ajzen, 2001; Gawronski & Bodenhausen, 2007). Social psychology theory and research support the idea that evaluations, in part, predict behavior (e.g., Ajzen 1991, 2001; Glasman & Albarracín, 2006; Kraus, 1995). Empirical evidence suggests this is true whether the evaluations are immediate (implicit evaluations) or deliberative (explicit evaluations), and that both the automatic and deliberative evaluations are important (e.g., Greenwald & Farnham, 2000; Nosek & Smyth, 2007). From this research, my colleagues and I hypothesized that how someone evaluates sexual aggression would predict, in part whether or not they would engage in sexually aggressive behavior.
Prior to this study, we had
conducted cross-sectional correlational and experimental research examining
implicit and explicit evaluations of sexual aggression against adults. In some of
our studies, we found more positive implicit evaluations of rape were
associated with self-reported sexually aggressive behavior against adults and
self-reported likelihood to rape (Nunes, Hermann, & Ratcliffe, 2013), and in
all or our studies we found more positive explicit evaluations of rape were
associated with self-reported sexually aggressive behavior against adults and
self-reported likelihood to rape (Hermann, Nunes, & Maimone, 2016; Nunes,
Hermann, White, Pettersen, & Bumby, 2016; Nunes et al., 2013). These
studies provided preliminary evidence that evaluations are related to sexual
offending against adults. Prior to this
study, however, we hadn’t yet explored whether evaluations predict subsequent
sexually aggressive behavior against adults. This was an important next step
because if
evaluations are a causal factor for this type of behavior, then we would expect
that they would predict whether or not people engage in future sexually
aggressive behavior.
We also
wanted to explore this research question using a sample of men recruited from
the community. Sexually aggressive behavior encompasses behaviors that differ
in tactic (verbal coercion to physical aggression) and sexual acts (unwanted
kissing or touching to penetrative acts). We know that many sexual assaults go
undetected, and even if they are detected, may not result in official charges
or convictions. This means that individuals with convictions for sexual
aggression may not be fully representative of men who engage in sexually
aggressive behavior against adults. In our past research we have used student
samples, but these samples tend to be fairly homogeneous in their demographic
characteristics, so they also may not be fully representative of men who engage
in sexually aggressive behavior against adults. Community samples can offer
diversity and complement samples of students and men with convictions for
sexual aggression.
What kinds of challenges did you face throughout the process?
There were
several logistical challenges we faced while conducting this research. The
first was conducting this type of research online with a sample of community
men. We needed to be able to get quality data and compensate participants for
their efforts. We tried several different methods of collecting data online
before settling on using Qualtrics and recruiting from a panel of participants.
A second challenge we faced was setting up the
implicit measures in the Qualtrics survey environment. We hired a computer
programmer to help with the development of these measures, but still had to
work closely with the computer programmer to tailor the measures to our needs. We used a combination of computer code (javascript) and
pre-existing Qualtrics’ functions to present the blocks and trials, randomize
the presentation of stimuli, and record reaction times for our IAT measures.
What do you believe to be to
be the main things that you have learnt about evaluations of Sexual Aggression
in predicting sexually Aggressive Behavior in men in the community?
This research is preliminary, but suggests that
explicit and implicit evaluations are relevant for understanding sexual
aggression against adults. This is consistent with the social psychology
literature noted above and suggests we should continue to explore the role
evaluations may play in sexual aggression against adults.
This research was part of a series of studies I conducted for my
dissertation (also see Hermann et al., 2016; Hermann, 2015). From these
studies, we also learned that the pattern of relationships between evaluations
and past sexually aggressive behavior and self-reported likelihood to rape was
consistent for samples of students and community men. A common critique of research on sexual aggression conducted
with student samples is that the results may not generalize to other samples of
men (i.e., community or incarcerated samples). The results of the current study
suggest that this may not be the case for research exploring the relationship
between evaluations of sexual aggression and sexually aggressive behavior. Next
we would like to try to replicate these findings with incarcerated samples of men
with convictions for sexual aggression against adults to determine if research
conducted with students and community men could also generalize to this
population.
Now that you’ve published the article, what are some implications for practitioners?
We would suggest that more rigorous research is needed replicating and
expanding this line of research before there are implications for practitioners.
However, if future research finds evaluations predict sexually aggressive behavior against adults,
that evaluations of sexual aggression can change, and that change is associated
with changes in sexually aggressive behavior, then evaluations of sexual
aggression would be an important target in risk assessment and treatment.
Chantal A. Hermann, Ph.D
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