The longitudinal effects of rape myth beliefs and rape proclivity.

Abstract

Both rape myth acceptance (RMA) and rape proclivity are associated with acts of sexual aggression. Although this relationship is assumed to be unidirectional with RMA contributing to rape proclivity, no studies have examined the possibility of a predictive relationship, with rape proclivity also impacting RMA. This is important to consider in a longitudinal context, as both constructs may increase risk of sexual assault perpetration and support each other over time, further escalating the risk of a sexual assault. Using longitudinal data with a sample of 488 college men, this study used cross-lagged panel analysis to investigate these relationships across 4 time points according to 2 models: autoregressive effects of RMA and rape proclivity, meaning each construct predicts itself over time, and RMA and rape proclivity predicting each other over time. The results of this study indicate that causality exists for RMA and rape proclivity. These findings have implications for prevention efforts directed toward modifying attitudes associated with sexual assault perpetration—particularly for men who are at high risk of perpetrating sexual assault, including those with high rates of RMA and rape proclivity.

Profiles of Men’s Rape Myth Beliefs and the Association With Rape Proclivity

“…While the relationship between RMA and rape proclivity has been examined previously (Bohner et al, 2010;O'Connor, 2020;Seabrook et al, 2018), this is the first study to investigate men's membership within subgroups with differing levels of RMA in relation to rape proclivity. These findings suggest that not only is RMA associated with rape proclivity, as has been found previously, but also that some subgroups of men who endorse higher levels of some or all RMs have higher rape proclivity compared to the subgroup of men with the lowest levels of RMA.…”

Conformity to masculine norms, the Dark Tetrad, and men’s rape myth acceptance.

“…Examples of rape myths include beliefs that women mean “yes” when they say “no,” rape is often the woman’s fault, and women enjoy being raped. Importantly, men’s endorsement of rape myths has been significantly and positively associated with attitudinal and behavioral indicators of sexual aggression against women, including acceptance of interpersonal violence (Payne et al, 1999), adversarial sexual beliefs (Payne et al, 1999), attraction to sexual aggression (Malamuth, 1989), sexual assault perpetration (see Yapp & Quayle, 2018, for a review), and rape proclivity and likelihood of raping (O’Connor, 2021; Seabrook et al, 2018). Given the consistent associations of rape myth adherence with different indicators of sexual aggression against women, researchers have examined sociocultural and dispositional factors that may underlie men’s endorsement of rape myths.…”

Through Myths, Attitudes, or Norms? The Relationship Between Low Self-Control and Sexual Aggression

“…Findings supported the model where RMA effects were mediated by perceived power on rape proclivity, a measure of sexually aggressive inclinations. O’Connor (2021) studied longitudinal bidirectional effects in a sample of nearly 500 male college students, assessed four times over the course of a year, between RMA and rape proclivity, and found support for consistent reciprocal effects. This work once again highlights the key role of RMA in understanding the perpetration risk for sexual violence, thus also highlighting its importance for prevention or intervention efforts.…”