Two Studies Investigating Associations Between Sexual Assault Victimization History and Bystander Appraisals of Risk

Abstract

Across two studies, we examined sexual assault history and bystander appraisals of risk and the moderating roles of danger cue salience (Study 1) and alcohol intoxication (Study 2) in women. Participants (Study 1 = 148, Study 2 = 64) read vignettes ending with cues of nonconsensual sexual activity and an opportunity to intervene. Participants also completed self-report measures of vignette appraisals and history of sexual assault victimization. Across both studies, sexual assault victimization was unassociated with bystander risk appraisals. Alcohol intoxication and subtlety of nonconsent cues did not interact with sexual assault victimization history to influence appraisals of dangerousness.

Associations of Alcohol Consumption, Sexual Assault History, Severity, and Revictimization With College Women’s Bystander Behaviors in Alcohol-involved Settings

“…Overall, more severe SAV histories predicted increased bystander behaviors for women, disregarding their alcohol consumption; this may occur for several reasons. First, preliminary literature suggests that risk deficits brought on by SAV for an individual may not be evident when women are active bystanders (Bridges et al, 2020). In other words, women may have decreased abilities to recognize risk for themselves but not for others.…”

“…One relatively unexplored factor related to prosocial bystander behavior is sexual assault victimization (SAV) experiences, which can have a unique influence on risk recognition-a key component of bystander intervention (e.g., Bridges et al, 2020;Ham et al, 2019). For instance, some researchers have found that having an SAV experience can decrease risk recognition (Gidycz et al, 2006;Neilson et al, 2018;Rinehart & Yeater, 2015;Wilson et al, 1999), increase risk recognition (Gidycz et al, 2006;Untied et al, 2012) or have no effect on it (Gidycz et al, 2006;Yeater et al, 2009).…”

“…One study found SAV history was unrelated to bystander behaviors (Fleming & Wiersma-Mosley, 2015). The other study examined the influence of women's SAV history (assaulted since the age of 14 versus never experiencing a sexual assault) on risk recognition in a hypothetical sexual assault vignette; the authors found that SAV history was not associated with a decreased ability to detect risk and see a need for intervention in a hypothetical sexual assault situation (Bridges et al, 2020). Yet, neither study examined if the severity of the sexual assault women experienced (e.g., the highest sexual behavior obtained from a non-consenting woman based on different sexual aggression tactics) or if women experienced multiple assaults (i.e., were revictimized) was associated with women's bystander behaviors.…”

“…Journal of Interpersonal Violence Alcohol consumption. Recently, researchers have also focused on how alcohol consumption impedes bystander perceptions (Bridges et al, 2020;Ham et al, 2019;Leone et al, 2018;Leone & Parrott, 2019) such as, decreasing people's likelihood to intervene or perceive a situation as risky. A recent alcohol administration study by Bridges et al (2020) found that, after accounting for people's intoxicated state, SAV history did not influence risk perception for bystanders in a hypothetical sexual assault situation.…”

“…Recently, researchers have also focused on how alcohol consumption impedes bystander perceptions (Bridges et al, 2020;Ham et al, 2019;Leone et al, 2018;Leone & Parrott, 2019) such as, decreasing people's likelihood to intervene or perceive a situation as risky. A recent alcohol administration study by Bridges et al (2020) found that, after accounting for people's intoxicated state, SAV history did not influence risk perception for bystanders in a hypothetical sexual assault situation. Aside from that study, the associations of alcohol consumption and SAV history with bystander behaviors have rarely been explored together; however, the potential interactions between these two correlates may help inform how bystander interventions target these two constructs.…”