Sexual Arousal's Effect on College Men's Ability to Detect Protest in a Date Rape Analogue

Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of sexual arousal on college men's ability to identify when sexual advances should cease in response to protest depicted in a date-rape audio vignette. Participant arousal level was manipulated via exposure to one of three experimental videos: a neutral control video, a humor control video, or an erotic video clip. Participants provided subjective arousal levels. Participants then listened to an audio recording depicting conversation and mutual sexual activity escalating to rape. Response latency was obtained when participants indicated the male should refrain from making further sexual advances. Participant latency time did not significantly differ by condition. This potentially suggests that sexual arousal does not impact men's ability to detect partner protest in a date rape situation.