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RESEARCH
The goal of this study was to understand how sexual motives may be related to sexual violence perpetration. A number of models were discussed in the study (e.g., evolutionary and feminist theories, psychodynamic trauma-mastery theory, behavioral conditioning model, the sexual script theory and the schema theory), and noted that the models may have very different predictions for associations between sexual perpetration and sexual motives. However, the Confluence Model (Malamuth, 1996) was selected because its theoretical framework incorporates impersonal sex and hostile masculinity and allows for risk factors (e.g., alcohol) that are interactive. This is an especially important feature because some factors may be contextual.
Gesser, Eby, and Anderson noted that sexual motives have been understudied in relation to sexual violence perpetration in the campus world. They did note that sexual motives are a critical component of effective cognitive-behavioral treatment for sexual offending, offering a wealth of information that has largely been ignored in understanding college men.
For this study, the authors analyzed data from 205 male college students, with 36% reporting some form of sexual perpetration. The findings indicate that those with a history of perpetration endorsed all of the factors studied (e.g., intimacy, enhancement, self-affirmation, peer approval and partner approval) except the coping motive at significantly higher levels than the students without this history. Alcohol-associated aggression significantly interacted with self-enhancement and self-affirmation motives to predict sexual perpetration. However, the association is complex with self-enhancement associated with decrease in perpetration, but with increased risk when associated with alcohol and self-affirmation acting in the reverse (e.g., self-affirmation decreases in risk when associated with alcohol). Surprisingly, the partner approval motive significantly predicted sexual violence perpetration on its own. The authors suggest that since much of sexual violence is perpetrated within relationships, endorsement by the partner (e.g., “I have sex because I don’t want my partner to be angry with me.”), the man may be unaware because he perceives his behavior as normal.
In conclusion, the authors state that many more factors are significant in predicting sexual violence perpetration than just power and dominance motives. In fact, college men with a history of perpetration endorsed all sexual motives at higher levels then men without these histories – even positive emotion-related motives that Hirsh and Khan (Sexual Citizens, 2019) named as “sexual projects” may play a role in sexual violence.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONALS
Preventing sexual assault in university settings and by emerging adults has been a focus of professionals and researchers for many years. This is among the first studies to illustrate the motivations of young men who engage in these crimes. These findings again show how prevalent sexual aggression can be (36% in this sample). At the same time, they offer ideas for intervention in these areas. Interventions involving psychoeducation and relationship skills are likely to be more effective, especially if they are tailored to the individual needs and the context in which they happened. Further, education about “alcohol expectancies” is vitally important (in other words, bridging the gap between alcohol-related beliefs and what one can realistically predict when drinking alcohol). The role of alcohol use can often be overlooked in treatment programs.
Ultimately, this study brings possibilities for assessment and deeper understanding, since so much of the existing research has been on late adolescents and early adults with respect to criminal history and antisociality that typically doesn’t inform responses in university settings.
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FIELD
This study is welcome at a time when so many live with the lingering belief that sexual assault by young men is only about “power and control.” While these motives are extremely important to consider, it has been known for some time that they are not the only motives to sexual assault and aggression. It is also true that the impact of sexual assault, regardless of the motivation, may result in a loss of power and control for the person impacted by the assault. Of course, terms like “sexual” and “relationship” can have dramatically different connotations to people depending upon their history, the context, their identities and so much more. This study offers ways of thinking about how misguided sexual and relational motivations, left unchecked, can contribute to sexual assault and aggression. Understanding the complex motivations for offending is challenging and this study helps us understand how the frameworks we use may help to guide our efforts – or in some cases, may change the interpretation of the data we collect. Ultimately, it is incredibly useful to look at the research within the different silos of information to include sexual health, trauma, sexual violence prevention, and the treatment and intervention of those who cause harm.
CITATION
Gesser, N., Eby, F. G., & Anderson, R. E. (2023). Motives for sex and sexual perpetration in college men: an exploratory study. Sexual Abuse, 10790632231190080.
ABSTRACT
Objective
Prior research has rarely focused on sexual motives (e.g., motives for having sex) when studying sexual violence perpetration prevention. The current study examined the role of sexual motives alongside other risk factors like alcohol expectancies in predicting sexual violence.
Method
We analyzed data from 205 male college students; 36% reported sexual perpetration of some type. Participants completed a series of questionnaires in a randomized order, including: measures of prior sexual perpetration, sexual motives, rape myth acceptance, alcohol expectancies, and a measure of social desirability. Data were analyzed using a series of T-tests and logistic regressions.
Results
With one exception (coping motives), all sexual motives (intimacy, enhancement, self-affirmation, peer approval, and partner approval) were endorsed at higher levels by individuals who perpetrated sexual violence than those who did not (p < .05, Cohen’s d = .25–.56). The partner approval motive significantly predicted sexual violence perpetration on its own. The enhancement motive, both independently and in interaction with alcohol expectancies for aggression, predicted sexual violence perpetration. Two other motives, intimacy and self-affirmation, were only significant in interaction with alcohol expectancies for aggression.
Conclusion
All sexual motives were endorsed more frequently by those who perpetrated sexual violence than those who did not. Sexual motives had a complex interaction with alcohol expectancies in predicting sexual violence perpetration. The results suggest that intervention programs should emphasize healthy, consensual sexual relationships that do not involve alcohol.
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