SEXUAL AGGRESSION AND LOVE STYLES - AN EXPLORATORY-STUDY

The relationship between sexual aggression and theoretical love styles was studied. Based on self-reported sexual history, 63 college men we re grouped as having either consensual sexual experience only (n = 33) or having verbally coercive sexual experience (n = 30). Analyses were conducted using six love style scales, likelihood to rape, likelihood to use sexual force, masculinity, and sociopathy to predict sexual co ercive group membership. Logistic regression indicated that the Ludus love style, a manipulative, game-playing orientation towards intimate relationships, was the best predictor of sexual coercion among the six love styles. Additionally, logistic regression indicated that the Lud us love style was as effective in classifying men as coercive or nonco ercive as other dispositions related to sexual aggression. These resul ts suggest that the Ludus love style may serve as a unifying construct for dispositions related to sexual aggression. This study constitutes an initial attempt to link sexually coercive behaviors to a theoretic al model of intimate relationships. Results are discussed in the conte xt of a situational model of sexual coercion.