A Field Study Examining the Effects of Alcohol, Bar Environment & Beliefs on Sexual Misperception, a Precursor to Sexual Aggression

Abstract

Sexual misperception, or the erroneous perception of a potential partner’s sexual interest or consent, has been identified as a potential proximal predictor of sexual aggression perpetration. Sexual misperception shares several key risk factors with sexual aggression perpetration, including alcohol intoxication and a constellation of attitudes referred to as hostile masculinity (HM) and impersonal sex (IS), making it a valuable intermediate mechanism for the study of sexual aggression. To-date, no studies have examined sexual misperception in a naturalistic drinking setting, despite qualitative and quantitative evidence that the unique norms and expectancies present in drinking settings likely facilitate sexual misperception, sexual behavior, and sexual aggression. Guided by an alcohol myopia (AM) framework, the present study investigated the intersecting effects of acute intoxication, HM, and IS on sexual misperception in bar patrons. Paper 1 presents the protocol for this field study in service of providing guidance to researchers on the logistical and ethical considerations involved in conducting an alcohol field study. Paper 2 presents results from this field study. Method: Data were collected on thirteen weekend nights from 11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. in areas with a high concentration of drinking venues. One hundred eighty-two men who were mostly interested in women completed a brief online survey that included a sexual misperception vignette, measures of AM, HM, and IS, and questions about the contextual features of the venue they just exited. Participants also completed a handheld breathalyzer. A moderated mediation path model was used to test for 1) indirect effect of acute intoxication on sexual misperception through AM and 2) interactions among AM and HM and AM and IS were run. This study also explored linear relationships among venue characteristics and sexual misperception and AM. Results & Conclusions: Field studies can evaluate proximal causes of alcohol-involved sexual aggression and intermediary processes like sexual misperception in naturalistic settings. Acute intoxication did not predict AM and this relationship was not moderated by HM or IS. Acute intoxication was also unrelated to sexual misperception, and there were no significant linear associations among venue characteristics and misperception or AM. Results from this study indicate that regardless of intoxication, men are capable of accurately appraising sexual interest in a vignette.