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Do Community Females Display a Propensity towards Sexual Aggression? An Empirical Assessment of Prevalence and Psychological Predictors

Evernden, Zak, Hales, Samuel T., Gannon, Theresa A., Best, Kyle, Pellatt-Higgins, Tracy (2021) Do Community Females Display a Propensity towards Sexual Aggression? An Empirical Assessment of Prevalence and Psychological Predictors. Psychology, Crime & Law, 29 (1). pp. 56-82. ISSN 1068-316X. E-ISSN 1477-2744. (doi:10.1080/1068316X.2021.1999948) (KAR id:89894)

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https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2021.1999948

Abstract

Objective: Despite growing interest in female sexual offending, academic understanding of community females who display a propensity towards sexual aggression (PSA) is lacking. Method: Across three vignette studies, we recruited three independent samples of community females (Noverall = 555) to assess the prevalence of female PSA towards males. We also examined whether established risk factors associated with male PSA are valid predictors of female PSA. These included ambivalent sexist attitudes, inappropriate sexual interests, non-sexual aggression, impulsivity, male rape myth acceptance, and sexual preoccupation. Results: Across studies, findings showed that between 26.9% and 44.0% of participants did not emphatically reject an interest in adult male-directed PSA. Key predictors of participants’ non-zero endorsement included an interest in violent sexual activities, rape myth acceptance, and sexual preoccupation. Conclusions: Though lower than their male counterparts (see Bohner, G., Reinhard, M. A., Rutz, S., Sturm, S., Kerschbaum, B., & Effler, D. (1998). Rape myths as neutralizing cognitions: Evidence for a causal impact of anti-victim attitudes on men’s self-reported likelihood of raping. European Journal of Social Psychology, 28(2), 257–268), some community females self-report an interest in perpetrating male-directed sexual aggression. We discuss the implications of our findings on harm prevention efforts with females, alongside avenues for future research.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/1068316X.2021.1999948
Uncontrolled keywords: Inappropriate sexual interests; community females; rape proclivity; sexual aggression; vignette study
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Funders: University of Kent (https://ror.org/00xkeyj56)
Depositing User: Samuel Hales
Date Deposited: 25 Aug 2021 11:01 UTC
Last Modified: 08 Feb 2023 15:01 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/89894 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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