The effects of alcohol intoxication on young adult women’s identification of risk for sexual assault: A systematic review.

Abstract

Alcohol-related sexual assault among young adult women continues to present a public health concern. Social information-processing theory provides an organizing framework for understanding how alcohol intoxication can impair the processing of sexual assault risk cues and behavioral responding in sexual assault scenarios. The aim of the present article was to systematically review the extant research on the effects of alcohol intoxication on sexual assault risk information processing among young adult women. We selected relevant research through a systematic search of scientific databases, using key words related to young adult women, alcohol intoxication, and risk recognition, resulting in 14 independent research samples meeting all criteria. Studies used a variety of methods and dependent measures, precluding quantitative analysis of results. Thirteen of the 14 studies identified report at least partial support for intoxication impairing the attention to cues, interpretation of social information, or intended behavioral response in a hypothetical sexual assault scenario. Given some mixed findings, further research is warranted to identify contextual and individual differences related to risk detection and intended responding and to fully test other aspects of social information processing. Results have implications for improving alcohol-related sexual assault prevention programs by addressing the impact of alcohol intoxication on processing sexual assault risk information. (PsycINFO Database Record

Effect of Alcohol Intoxication on Bystander Intervention in a Vignette Depiction of Sexual Assault

“…The intoxicated bystander then focuses on his or her own experiences rather than attending to the experience of others, reducing the likelihood of an intervention response. Alcohol may also interfere with information processing related to sexual risk among potential victims (Melkonian & Ham, 2018) and potential perpetrators (Abbey et al, 2014) as well as with a bystander's ability to notice and accurately interpret risk for sexual assault. In examining bystander intervention for alcoholinvolved sexual assaults using qualitative interviews, Pugh and colleagues (2016) found that failing to identify that the victim was in danger was the primary barrier to intervention.…”

Dangerous Liaisons: The Role of Hookups and Heavy Episodic Drinking in College Sexual Victimization

“…Hookups involve isolation, sexual expectations, and the potential for misunderstanding and miscommunication of sexual intent, all factors that can contribute to the risk of sexual victimization. The presence of alcohol at the time of sexual activity exacerbates difficulties in perception, communication, and responses (Melkonian & Ham, 2018), while increasing male sexual aggression within sexual encounters (Testa, Brown, & Wang, 2018). Alcoholinvolved hookups are also likely to be less well-planned (Livingston, Testa, Windle, & Bay-Cheng, 2015) and more likely to involve partners who are less well-known (LaBrie et al, 2014;Testa & Collins, 1997).…”

“…First, women who drink to the point of incapacitation or unconsciousness are vulnerable to incapacitated rape, i.e., unwanted intercourse that occurs because the victim is unable to consent, respond, or object . Intoxication at less extreme levels may contribute to sexual victimization indirectly as a result of alcohol-related impairment in the ability to recognize, interpret, and respond to sexual assault risk cues (Melkonian & Ham, 2018).…”

“…Consuming more drinks before the hookup increased the odds that the experience resulted in rape, both due to being drunk or incapacitated and due to force. The association between intoxication at the time of hooking up and rape may reflect the fact that intoxication impairs social perception, communication, and ability to extricate oneself from a situation (Melkonian & Ham, 2018), while contributing to sexually aggressive male behavior (Testa, Brown, & Wang, 2018). Experimental studies show that men view women who are drinking alcohol as more sexually available than women drinking cola (George, Gournic & McAfee, 1988).…”

Are College Students’ Attitudes Related to Their Application of Sanctions for Campus Sexual Assault Cases?

“…This fact, in and of itself, has significant complications because it is relatively common for women assaulted by an acquaintance to not report sexual assaults because they do not expect to be believed (e.g., Bachman, 1998;Koss, Dinero, Seibel, & Cox, 1988). A second difference for campus sexual assaults from criminal cases, is that campus cases more likely involve substance use by both the perpetrator and the victim (Abbey, 2002;Melkonian & Ham, 2018). If a victim were known to be drinking, doubts fueled by rape myths may alter the picture of a blameless victim, thus potentially leading to attributions of responsibility based on the victim's substance use rather than on the perpetrator's behavior (Hayes, Abbott, & Cook, 2016).…”