THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL-COMPARISON FEEDBACK ON AGGRESSIVE RESPONSES TO EROTIC AND AGGRESSIVE FILMS

A study assessed the effects of social-comparison cues and filmed viol ence on aggression toward women. Under the auspices of validating some film clips for use in future research, males viewed either erotic, vi olent sexual, or violent nonsexual films. A male confederate provided social comparison feedback by indicating (or not indicating) that the film degraded women. Self-reports of sexual arousal, affective respons es to the films, perceptions of violence, perceptions of pornography, and perceptions of portrayal of women were measured. In a purportedly unrelated learning experiment, males were given the opportunity to agg ress toward a female confederate through electric shock. Intensity and duration of shock were measured. Social comparison information caused reductions in self-reports of sexual arousal, affect, and increased p erceptions of violence in the erotic film condition only. Social-compa rison information caused males to rate the depiction of women as more negative in both the erotic and violent nonsexual conditions. Regardle ss of film type, social comparison information caused a reduction in p erceived realism of the films. Only film condition affected perception s of pornography, with greater sexual content judged as more pornograp hic. Social-comparison information reduced the intensity of shocks del ivered. Finally, social-comparison information led to reduced duration of shock in all film conditions; however, this effect appeared to dis sipate in the violent sexual condition. Implications are discussed.