Socialization and sexual aggression in college men: The role of observational influence in detecting risk cues.

The present study examined the effects of observational influence on the recognition of sexual aggression in men using videotaped vignettes of coercive and noncoercive dating scenarios. Participants' self-identification with sexually aggressive behavior, ability to identify inappropriate dating behaviors, and ability to recognize nonconsent was assessed. The order in which video scenarios were presented was associated with differential recognition of risk cues. Further, compared with their nonaggressive peers, men with a history of sexual aggression saw their own behavior as more similar to the man in both videos, suggesting that men with a history of sexual aggression may be able to identify sexually aggressive behavior, but not label such actions as inappropriate, perhaps in accordance with perceived rape supportive norms. Implications for sexual assault prevention efforts among men are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)