Abstract

GARRIDO-MACIAS, Marta; VALOR-SEGURA, Inmaculada  and  EXPOSITO, Francisca. Attribution of responsibility for sexual violence: effect of type of tactic, gender and benevolent sexism. Acción psicol. [online]. 2017, vol.14, n.2, pp.69-84.  Epub Sep 11, 2023. ISSN 2255-1271.  https://dx.doi.org/10.5944/ap.14.2.20757.

Sexual violence is a current problem that requires empirical study, since it affects more than 30 % of women in their relationships with men. The aim of the research has been to verify the way in which the type of tactics used to obtain sex, along with gender and benevolent sexism can have an impact on the responsibility attributed to the aggressor. Using a sample of 305 participants, a sexual scenario is presented in a relationship context where the type of tactic used to have sex (neutral, sexual coaxing, or sexual coercion) is manipulated. The results indicate that people attribute more responsibility to the aggressor when the tactic used is sexual coaxing or sexual coercion than when using non-violent (neutral) tactics. In addition, men with high benevolent sexism blame the aggressor less, but only when the subtlest tactics of sexual violence (sexual coaxing) are used, whereas this effect does not occur in women. These results provide a theoretical framework for establishing the limits of the behaviours that are considered acceptable (or not) in a relationship, contributing to their detection and having implications for legal decision-making in cases of gender violence.

Keywords : Sexual violence; Attribution of responsibility; Benevolent sexism; Sexual coercion.

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