COLLEGE-STUDENTS JUDGMENTS REGARDING SEXUAL AGGRESSION DURING A DATE

Effects of level of resistance and type of sexual behavior on judgment s regarding sexual aggression on a date were studied. Participants wer e 138 female and 57 male college students who read one of six vignette s (three levels of resistance x two types of sexual behavior) describi ng a date in which unwanted sexual behavior occurred. Gender-neutral n ames (Chris and Pat) were used in the vignettes, and sex of aggressor and victim was not specified. Participants completed identical scales describing degree of disapproval of the aggressor's behavior from thre e different perspectives: their own viewpoint (Participant Rating), th e victim's viewpoint (Victim Rating), and the aggressor's viewpoint (A ggressor Rating). Both Participant and Victim Ratings showed significa nt differences between levels of resistance, and significant but small er differences due to participant gender. Participant ratings showed a significant but small difference between types of sexual behavior. Th e aggressor's overall behavior was labeled as date/acquaintance rape b y 52.9% of participants for the vignette involving physical resistance and intercourse.