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Rape-Myth Congruent Beliefs in Women Resulting From Exposure in Violent Pornography: Effects of Alcohol and Sexual Arousal

NCJ Number
234385
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 21 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2006 Pages: 1208-1223
Author(s)
Kelly Cue Davis; Jeanette Norris; William H. George; Joel Martell; Julia R. Heiman
Date Published
September 2006
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study assessed women's alcohol use and sexual arousal in response to violent pornography.
Abstract
Previous research findings indicate that women suffer a variety of detrimental effects from exposure to violent pornography. This study used an experimental paradigm to examine the effects of a moderate alcohol dose and alcohol expectancies on women's acute reactions to a violent pornographic stimulus. A community sample of female social drinkers (N = 134) read an eroticized rape depiction after completing an alcohol administration protocol. As predicted, intoxicated participants were less likely to label the depicted events as rape than their sober counterparts. A path analytic model illustrated that participants' self-reported sexual arousal to the stimulus, as influenced by alcohol consumption and expectancies, resulted in increased rape myth congruent perceptions of the victim and decreased labeling of the incident as rape. Findings suggest that acute alcohol intoxication during violent pornography exposure may ultimately result in women developing more calloused attitudes toward rape and rape victims. (Published Abstract)