Perceptions of sexual consent: the impact of relationship history and gender.Although seemingly seem·ing adj. Apparent; ostensible. n. Outward appearance; semblance. seem  ing·ly adv. straightforward, sexual consent is complex. As a
form of sexual communication, consent includes a host of nuanced issues.
What form should this communication take? Does everyone involved have
the same assumptions about what is being consented to? Is consent a
negotiated process? Does the context of the relationship have a bearing
on how consent decisions are made? Sexual consent is only beginning to
receive research attention. Hickman Hickman may refer to:People with the surname Hickman or Hickmann:
adj. 1. Located inside; inner. 2. Directed or moving toward the interior: an inward flow. 3. (voluntary willingness) and outward (communication to another person) manifestations as key dimensions of consent. There is a vast literature on sexual coercion coercion, in law, the unlawful act of compelling a person to do, or to abstain from doing, something by depriving him of the exercise of his free will, particularly by use or threat of physical or moral force. and rape that has focused, and continues to do so, on the absence of consent; however, little research has examined sexual consent as a subject in itself and how it is perceived and understood in context. The research conducted to date has focused on the outward manifestation man·i·fes·ta·tion n. An indication of the existence, reality, or presence of something, especially an illness. manifestation (man´ifestā´sh of sexual consent--the way in which couples communicate their consent (Hall, 1995, 1998; Hickman & Muehlenhard, 1999; Humphreys Humphreys may refer to: People
non-verbally along with a list of 34 possible responses to the initiation. Participants rated how they would interpret their date's and their own signals, as well as how frequently participants used each response in their own sexual experiences. They found that consent was more complex than simply saying "yes." There was a diversity of behaviors individuals used to signal sexual consent. Factor analysis revealed five categories that could be construed as conveying sexual consent: direct verbal, direct nonverbal non·ver·bal adj. 1. Being other than verbal; not involving words: nonverbal communication. 2. Involving little use of language: a nonverbal intelligence test. , indirect verbal, indirect nonverbal, and no response. Hall (1995) found that most sexual activity progressed without overt Public; open; manifest. The term overt is used in Criminal Law in reference to conduct that moves more directly toward the commission of an offense than do acts of planning and preparation that may ultimately lead to such conduct. OVERT. Open. consent being communicated and, if consent was given, it was usually granted nonverbally. This research is supported by related studies that have found that the strategies used to initiate sexual activity, up to and including intercourse INTERCOURSE. Communication; commerce; connexion by reciprocal dealings between persons or nations, as by interchange of commodities, treaties, contracts, or letters. , more often are communicated nonverbally than verbally (Byers Byers may refer to any of the following places:
American writer of science fiction whose works include Stranger in a Strange Land (1961) and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (1967). Noun 1. , 1989; LaPlante, McCormick, & Brannigan bran·ni·gan n. 1. A noisy or confused quarrel. 2. A drinking spree; a binge. [Probably from the name Brannigan.] , 1980). Hall (1995) also found that sexual consent was given more frequently for intercourse behaviors than for kissing and fondling behaviors. This demonstrates that the perceived significance of the sexual activity can influence the form that sexual consent takes and the explicitness of its expression. Earlier research by Margolin Margolin may refer to:
equitable councillor to King Feredach. [Irish Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 728] See : Justice (1989) supports the idea that some sexual behaviors sexual behavior A person's sexual practices–ie, whether he/she engages in heterosexual or homosexual activity. See Sex life, Sexual life. are perceived as more significant and important that others. Minimal violations of sexual consent, such as stealing a kiss, were viewed by many participants as relatively unimportant un·im·por·tant adj. Not important; petty. un  im·portance n. and did not
receive significant censure A formal, public reprimand for an infraction or violation.From time to time deliberative bodies are forced to take action against members whose actions or behavior runs counter to the group's acceptable standards for individual behavior. In the U.S. . In addition, Semonsky and Rosenfeld Rosenfeld is a German name meaning "field of roses" and may refer to:
Angelica, Suor is forgiven by the Virgin Mary for ill-considered suicide. [Ital. Opera: Puccini, Suor Angelica, Westerman, 364] Bishop of Digne than to ask for permission. Regardless, it is clear that individuals minimize the significance of the violation when the sexual behavior in question is perceived as relatively minor. Lim and Roloff (1999) provided evidence that the type of sexual consent used influences the clarity of sexual encounters. They examined undergraduate students' attributions of sexual consent using a vignette Vignette A symbol or pictorial representation of the corporation on a stock certificate. Usually a complicated and artistic design, it is meant to make the counterfeiting of stock certificates as difficult as possible. manipulation that varied in the use of verbal, nonverbal, and contextual cues. Across a number of contextual cues (e.g., alcohol, marijuana marijuana or marihuana, drug obtained from the flowering tops, stems, and leaves of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa (see hemp) or C. indica; the latter species can withstand colder climates. , persistence (1) In a CRT, the time a phosphor dot remains illuminated after being energized. Long-persistence phosphors reduce flicker, but generate ghost-like images that linger on screen for a fraction of a second. , seduction Seduction See also Flirtatiousness. Selfishness (See CONCEIT, STINGINESS.) Armida modern Circe; sorceress who seduces Rinaldo. [Ital. Lit.: Jerusalem Delivered] Aurelius Dorigen’s nobleminded would-be seducer. ) verbal statements were perceived as clearer indications of sexual consent than were nonverbal cues. Although verbal consent might improve sexual communications significantly, it is not a highly normative nor·ma·tive adj. Of, relating to, or prescribing a norm or standard: normative grammar. nor behavior at present. Humphreys (2004) found that young adults have a good understanding of what sexual consent means; however, they are divided on the necessity of establishing consent using explicit, verbal communication. Women, more than men, and individuals without sexual intercourse sexual intercourse or coitus or copulation Act in which the male reproductive organ enters the female reproductive tract (see reproductive system). experience, compared with those with intercourse experience, stressed the importance of consent and preferred a more explicit approach to obtaining it. This research highlights gender differences in consent negotiation preferences as well as the possibility that sexual experience influences attitudes toward sexual consent. Experience with intercourse may provide for more realistic appraisal of the contextual nuances of sexual situations and the potential awkwardness of verbal consent. Individuals who have not experienced intercourse simply may be using an idealistic i·de·al·is·tic adj. Of, relating to, or having the nature of an idealist or idealism. i de·al·is model of what sexual situations should be.
The recent research on sexual consent is supported by the broader research literature on sexual communication between heterosexual heterosexual /het·ero·sex·u·al/ (-sek´shoo-al) 1. pertaining to, characteristic of, or directed toward the opposite sex. 2. one who is sexually attracted to persons of the opposite sex. dating couples. Research consistently finds that sexual communication is composed more frequently of nonverbal behavioral behavioral pertaining to behavior. behavioral disorders see vice. behavioral seizure see psychomotor seizure. cues than verbal discussions (Greer & Buss, 1994; Muehlenhard, Koralewski, Andrews, & Burdick, 1986; Sawyer, Desmond, & Lucke, 1993). The implication is that nonverbal cues are open to misinterpretation, which, in turn, could lead to sexual coercion (Abbey abbey, monastic house, especially among Benedictines and Cistercians, consisting of not less than 12 monks or nuns ruled by an abbot or abbess. Many abbeys were originally self-supporting. In the Benedictine expansion after the 8th cent. , 1982). Social scripting theory posits that, similar to actors, men and women have internalized scripts that guide their behavior. Sexual behavior also follows a script that dictates appropriateness and meaning of activities; however, sexual scripts for men and women are different, albeit overlapping (Gagnon, 1990; Wiederman, 2005). Traditionally, men have been socialized so·cial·ize v. so·cial·ized, so·cial·iz·ing, so·cial·iz·es v.tr. 1. To place under government or group ownership or control. 2. To make fit for companionship with others; make sociable. to be the initiators of sexual encounters and actively push for sexual intimacy This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the for details. This article has been tagged since September 2007. , while women have been socialized to be the guardians of their sexuality, which necessitates the setting of limits. Byers (1996) has suggested that the traditional sexual script remains a useful framework for understanding how coercion might occur in heterosexual dating interactions. The different sexual scripts for men and women have been used as a basis for numerous studies demonstrating that men impute impute v. 1) to attach to a person responsibility (and therefore financial liability) for acts or injuries to another, because of a particular relationship, such as mother to child, guardian to ward, employer to employee, or business associates. more sexual meaning to heterosexual interactions than do women (Abbey, 1982; Abbey & Harnish, 1995; Abbey & Melby, 1986; Johnson, Stockdale, & Saal, 1991; Muehlenhard, 1988). Hickman and Muehlenhard (1999) have found that men, more than women, use their own way of negotiating consent as the benchmark for perceiving whether others also have consented. And while many of these misperceptions of sexual interest or consent are corrected quickly, some are not. Studies regularly point to the difference in sexual scripts between the genders as a contributing factor in sexual coercion and date rape date rape n. forcible sexual intercourse by a male acquaintance of a woman, during a voluntary social engagement in which the woman did not intend to submit to the sexual advances and resisted the acts by verbal refusals, denials or pleas to stop, and/or physical (Abbey, 1991; Metts & Spitzberg, 1996; Muehlenhard, 1988). Relationship History As the length of an intimate relationship An intimate relationship is a particularly close interpersonal relationship. It is a relationship in which the participants know or trust one another very well or are confidants of one another, or a relationship in which there is physical or emotional intimacy. grows, the sexual relationship also changes. Partners typically grow more comfortable in their knowledge of each other's sexual likes and dislikes. The bidirectional The ability to move, transfer or transmit in both directions. flow of influence between active participants results in continuous and mutual influence, which allows intimate partners not only to shape each other but also the social world in which they live. The dynamics associated with sexual consent also change. More formal sexual negotiations early in relationships give way to more informal, casual, and idiosyncratic id·i·o·syn·cra·sy n. pl. id·i·o·syn·cra·sies 1. A structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group. 2. A physiological or temperamental peculiarity. 3. ways of signaling interest in sexual activity. The longer a couple is together, the more likely it is that the sexual relationship will evolve in directions that require less verbal consent, both asking and giving, and more nonverbal cues or signals that are, over time, interpreted more accurately. The degree of familiarity with one's partner is therefore an important variable in assessing perceptions of sexual consent. Shotland and Goodstein (1992) developed and tested the precedence The order in which an expression is processed. Mathematical precedence is normally: 1. unary + and - signs 2. exponentiation 3. multiplication and division 4. theory of sexual activity. They suggest that once sexual relations sexual relations pl.n. 1. Sexual intercourse. 2. Sexual activity between individuals. have been established, there are expectations on the part of both women and men that those patterns will continue. Their research found that men and women are more likely to perceive a resisting woman as obligated ob·li·gate tr.v. ob·li·gat·ed, ob·li·gat·ing, ob·li·gates 1. To bind, compel, or constrain by a social, legal, or moral tie. See Synonyms at force. 2. To cause to be grateful or indebted; oblige. to have sex, if the couple has had sexual intercourse 10 times before versus once or never before the event (Shotland & Goodstein, 1992). Participants also are more likely to label the encounter rape when the resisting woman has had sex only once or never before with the male versus 10 times before the event (Shotland & Goodstein, 1992). Additional research support for the precedence theory comes from Monson, Langhinrichsen-Rohling, and Binderup (2000). Using a vignette design, Monson et al. (2000) found that the perceived seriousness of the sexual assault decreased, and the victim's blame increased linearly as the intimacy between the victim and perpetrator A term commonly used by law enforcement officers to designate a person who actually commits a crime. increased from stranger to acquaintance to marriage. Monson et al. specifically suggest that the couple's sexual intercourse history is the key factor that influences rape-supportive and sex role stereotypical attributions. Unfortunately, both Shotland and Goodstein (1992) and Monson et al. (2000) used vignettes portraying extreme situations of sexual assault and rape between couples. While this research informs us that participants make distinctions, based on sexual history, in extreme cases, it does not illuminate il·lu·mi·nate v. il·lu·mi·nat·ed, il·lu·mi·nat·ing, il·lu·mi·nates v.tr. 1. To provide or brighten with light. 2. To decorate or hang with lights. 3. more ambiguous situations in which sexual coercion is not certain, nor does it identify how people evaluate the key ingredient, sexual consent. Contextual variables influence expectations in both men and women with respect to the anticipated sequencing of sexual events, and thus, have direct implications for sexual consent. Consent, whether actively or passively established, also may be assumed once sexual activity has taken place. Therefore, intuitively it follows that consent also is expected to continue for (at least) those sexual activities that the couple have engaged in during previous sexual episodes. As a result, sexual consent is not sought again--it is simply assumed. As Shotland and Goodstein (1992) point out, the assumed obligation of sexual activity may function to build and preserve relationships because each individual confidently can rely on his or her partner for sexual gratification GRATIFICATION. A reward given voluntarily for some service or benefit rendered, without being requested so to do, either expressly or by implication. . If couples follow a precedence assumption for sexual consent, then contextual variables, such as the history of a relationship, become important in determining the level and type of consent negotiations that will be involved in any given encounter. Other support for context specificity is found by researchers demonstrating that women are more likely to initiate sexual activity within a steady dating relationship than within a casual relationship (O'Sullivan & Byers, 1992). Thus, the question arising from this line of inquiry into sexual precedence is, do individuals perceive relationship history as having a bearing on whether couples continue to ask for consent to engage in sexual relations? For this study, relationship history is defined as encompassing relationship elements such as length, type, and sexual experience. The proposed study is a preliminary attempt to broaden the empirical basis for Shotland and Goodstein's (1992) theoretical work on precedence theory in relationships to include sexual consent communications. To date, researchers have not experimentally manipulated relationship history to assess its impact on perceptions of consent. Gender An examination of heterosexual consent negotiations also needs to consider the role of gender. The belief that men ought to push for sexual intimacy and that women must set the limits is deeply ingrained in·grained adj. 1. Firmly established; deep-seated: ingrained prejudice; the ingrained habits of a lifetime. 2. in many cultural traditions, including our own (Allgeier & Allgeier, 1995; Hite, 1994). If women are socialized to be the limit setters of relationships, then part of that role would be the giving or not giving of consent to engage in sexual activity. Given that women have higher rates of sexual victimization victimization Social medicine The abuse of the disenfranchised–eg, those underage, elderly, ♀, mentally retarded, illegal aliens, or other, by coercing them into illegal activities–eg, drug trade, pornography, prostitution. (Basile et al., 2006; Davies, 2002; Laumann, Gagnon, Michael, & Michaels, 1994; Struckman-Johnson, 1988), and traditionally have been socialized to play a defensive role in sexual situations, it may be that women view the occurrence of sexual consent as more important than men. Men, on the other hand, have been socialized to seek sexual involvement more often than women, which suggests that men are more likely to take on the role of initiating sexual involvement. Traditionally, men also have been socialized to dominate (sometimes aggressively) women to attain what they desire (Clark & Lewis, 1977; Muehlenhard, Friedman, & Thomas (language) Thomas - A language compatible with the language Dylan(TM). Thomas is NOT Dylan(TM). The first public release of a translator to Scheme by Matt Birkholz, Jim Miller, and Ron Weiss, written at Digital Equipment Corporation's Cambridge Research Laboratory runs , 1985). These messages may make men, relatively speaking, less likely to perceive the occurrence of consent as important in a sexual encounter. The traditional sexual scripts for men and women, however, are not the only determinant determinant, a polynomial expression that is inherent in the entries of a square matrix. The size n of the square matrix, as determined from the number of entries in any row or column, is called the order of the determinant. of behavior (Byers, 1996). Byers' (1996) review of the traditional sexual script found that while it remains a major script commonly used in intimate relationships, it is incomplete. The traditional script may interact with contextual variables, such as a couple's relationship length or type or the sexual experience of a couple (i.e., relationship history). Given the research on sexual precedence and gender differences in the perception of sexual assault, two hypotheses for the current study were proposed. The first hypothesis was that as the couple's relationship history increased, participants would tend to perceive the ambiguous scenario as more consensual CONSENSUAL, civil law. This word is applied to designate one species of contract known in the civil laws; these contracts derive their name from the consent of the parties which is required in their formation, as they cannot exist without such consent. 2. , acceptable, and clear. The second hypothesis was that men, more than women, would perceive the ambiguous scenarios, overall, as more consensual, acceptable, and clear. No interaction is hypothesized, because at the present time there is no reason to suggest a differential effect of relationship experience on women's and men's perceptions. Method Participants The sample consisted of 415 students enrolled in introductory psychology at a Canadian Canadian (kənā`dēən), river, 906 mi (1,458 km) long, rising in NE New Mexico. and flowing E across N Texas and central Oklahoma into the Arkansas River in E Oklahoma. university. The gender distribution of the sample was 64% female and 36% male. Participants ranged in age from 17 to 66 years of age, with a mean of 19.7 years (SD = 4.04). Ninety percent of the sample was enrolled on a full-time basis, and 88% were first-year students. The sexual orientation sexual orientation n. The direction of one's sexual interest toward members of the same, opposite, or both sexes, especially a direction seen to be dictated by physiologic rather than sociologic forces. of the participants was 98% heterosexual and 2% bisexual bisexual /bi·sex·u·al/ (-sek´shoo-al) 1. pertaining to or characterized by bisexuality. 2. an individual exhibiting bisexuality. 3. pertaining to or characterized by hermaphroditism. 4. . In terms of current relationship status, the two largest categories were steady relationship with one partner (39%) and not dating (38 %). Of those currently in relationships, the mean duration was 21.7 months (SD = 47.3). The majority (69%) of participants had experienced consensual sexual intercourse, and, of those, the reported number of partners ranged between 1 and 40, with a mean of 3.3 and a median of 2.0 (SD = 4.2). Design A between-subjects design was used. The two independent variables were participant gender (man or woman) and the relationship history in the vignette (first date, dating 3 months, married 2 years). The questionnaire included a number of dependent variables measuring sexual consent, clarity of intent, and the acceptableness of behaviors used by the man and the woman in the vignette. Materials Vignette. A vignette was created portraying a male female couple, Kevin and Lisa, watching a movie after sharing a dinner together. While watching the movie, Kevin begins touching Lisa in a sexual manner. Lisa, however, is not as interested in engaging in sexual activity as Kevin, and prefers to watch the movie. Kevin persists with his touching, and the couple end up having sexual intercourse. Both Kevin and Lisa are completely nonverbal throughout the episode. The scenario was written so that Lisa's expression of sexual consent remained ambiguous. The wording of the first-date condition was as follows (text for the other two conditions appears in parentheses See parenthesis. parentheses - See left parenthesis, right parenthesis. ): Kevin and Lisa just finished eating a wonderful dinner at Lisa's place (at Lisa's place or in their home). It was a special night because they were on their first date together (celebrating 3 months of dating or celebrating the 2-year anniversary of their wedding). They had rented a romantic comedy to watch after dinner. Lisa popped in the DVD and lay down partially on Kevin's stomach, in between his legs. About 20 minutes into the movie, it was clear that Kevin was not that interested in the plot of the movie. He reached down and brushed his hand slowly against her breast. Somewhat startled at the sensation, Lisa looked up at him and moved his hand away gently. They have not been sexual before tonight (been sexual on a few occasions over the last 3 months or been sexual on a fairly regular basis over their 2-year marriage), but Lisa didn't really feel like starting anything sexual, and, besides, she was really enjoying the movie. After a few minutes Kevin again rested his hand on her breast and began massaging it through her sweater. He leaned in and began to kiss her. Lisa kissed back, though not very enthusiastically, and then continued watching the movie; however, it seemed the movie was the furthest thing from her date's (boyfriend's or husband's) mind. Kevin began removing Lisa's top, as well as unbuttoning the top of his own jeans. Very soon both were close to being naked. They missed the rest of the movie having sex. Seventeen questions that measured perceptions of sexual consent, appropriateness of behaviors, clarity of intentions, and alternatives (i.e., should haves) were asked of the participants. Participants indicated the extent to which they agreed with each statement by circling a number on a 7-point scale that ranged from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). See Table 1 for a complete list of questions. Two additional questions were asked independent of the vignette to assess participants' attitudes toward sexual consent. A forced choice question asked participants which of two statements they agreed with more: "In making sexual advances, it is okay to continue until the partner indicates otherwise (i.e., assume 'yes' until you hear a 'no')" or "BEFORE making sexual advances, one should always verbally ask for and obtain a 'yes' to engage in any sexual activities (i.e., assume 'no' until you get a 'yes')." This question was used to understand how most participants felt about two different normative scripts for ensuring sexual consent. A final question presented participants with 11 sexual behaviors under two relationship contexts: new dating relationship, described as a couple who have had 2 or 3 dates and have not yet engaged in sex, and committed dating relationship, described as a 2-year relationship with regular sexual intercourse. The 11 behaviors presented follow: hugging partner, kissing partner, touching partner's breasts/chest over his or her clothes, touching partner's breasts/chest under his or her clothes, touching partner's genitals gen·i·tals pl.n. Genitalia. over his or her clothes, touching partner's genitals under his or her clothes, removing partner's clothes, masturbating partner, oral sex, penile/vaginal intercourse, and anal intercourse Noun 1. anal intercourse - intercourse via the anus, committed by a man with a man or woman anal sex, buggery, sodomy sexual perversion, perversion - an aberrant sexual practice; . Participants were asked to check off which of these items would require that "a clear and explicit indication of consent" be established prior to engaging in these behaviors. Procedure Students registered in introductory psychology signed up to participate for this study using an online form, which included a brief description of the study. Participants received course credit for their involvement. Participants were run in groups of 2 to 8. Upon arrival in the experiment room, participants were seated at individual cubicles cubicles individual cow bed spaces separated by half height and half length partitions. Usually located in loose housing cow accommodation in which the cow is free to wander at will. to ensure their privacy. Participants were allocated to conditions on a systematic basis. For example, the first participant was allocated to condition one (first date), the second participant was allocated to condition two (dating 3 months), the third participant was allocated to condition three (married 2 years). The conditions would then repeat for subsequent participants. All participants were provided with a legal-size envelope containing the informed consent statement, a set of demographic items, a vignette condition, and the questions. Participants were instructed to read the informed consent statement and then verbally were reminded of their right to decline further participation at any time, without penalty. To ensure anonymity, participants were instructed to seal the questionnaire in the envelope and to return it to the research assistant when they had finished. At the end of the study, participants read a debriefing de·brief·ing n. 1. The act or process of debriefing or of being debriefed. 2. The information imparted during the process of being debriefed. Noun 1. statement that provided background information and thanked them for their cooperation. Contact information for counseling services on campus also was provided. Results One participant whose responses were substantially different from the rest was dropped from the analyses reported here. A very small amount of random missing data was replaced by group means. All analyses were performed using SPSS A statistical package from SPSS, Inc., Chicago (www.spss.com) that runs on PCs, most mainframes and minis and is used extensively in marketing research. It provides over 50 statistical processes, including regression analysis, correlation and analysis of variance. 11.0 statistical software. A 2 x 3 between-subjects multivariate analysis multivariate analysis, n a statistical approach used to evaluate multiple variables. multivariate analysis, n a set of techniques used when variation in several variables has to be studied simultaneously. of variance The discrepancy between what a party to a lawsuit alleges will be proved in pleadings and what the party actually proves at trial. In Zoning law, an official permit to use property in a manner that departs from the way in which other property in the same locality was performed on the 17 dependent measures. Independent variables were participant's gender (male and female) and relationship history (first date, dating 3 months, and married 2 years). Results of homogeneity Homogeneity The degree to which items are similar. of variance-covariance matrices were satisfactory. Significant main effects were found for both history of relationship, Wilks' [lambda] = .74, and F(34, 784) = 3.75, p < .001, and gender, Wilks' [lambda] = .87, and F(17, 392) = 3.54, p < .001, but not for their interaction, Wilks' [lambda] = .90, and F(34, 784) = 1.31, p = .12. The results reflected a modest association between the combined dependent variables and both the relationship history scores, partial [[??].sup.2] = .14, and gender scores, partial [[??].sup.2] =. 13. To explore the multivariate The use of multiple variables in a forecasting model. effect, we conducted univariate univariate adjective Determined, produced, or caused by only one variable analyses (using Bonferroni correction In statistics, the Bonferroni correction states that if an experimenter is testing n independent hypotheses on a set of data, then the statistical significance level that should be used for each hypothesis separately is 1/n ). Relationship History At the univariate level, 11 of the 17 items showed significant differences on the basis of relationship history. For 4 of the items, all three relationship conditions differed from one another. As the experience in the relationship increased (across the three conditions), participants agreed more that This couples' nonverbal behaviors are just as effective as verbal communication to indicate sexual consent, F(2, 414) = 12.86, p < .001, and This couple was able to read each other's signals with enough accuracy to assume sexual consent, F(2, 414) = 19.02, p < .001. In addition, participants agreed less that Kevin should have asked for consent verbally, F(2, 414) = 12.44, p < .001, and Kevin should have asked for consent to touch Lisa's breast, F(2, 414) = 29.66, p < .001. For an additional 6 items, the first date condition significantly differed from the dating 3 months and married 2 years conditions. In first-date conditions, participants agreed more that Kevin should have asked for consent to kiss Lisa, F(2, 414) = 17.19, p < .001, and Consent should have been asked for and given before any kind of sexual activity began, F(2, 414) = 10.43, p < .001, than in the more experienced relationship conditions. In addition, participants agreed less that, when in the first-date condition than in the other two relationship conditions, Verbally asking for consent would have "wrecked wrecked adj. Slang Drunk or intoxicated. Adj. 1. wrecked - destroyed in an accident; "a wrecked ship"; "a highway full of wrecked cars" the mood," F(2, 414) = 5.60, p = .004; Sexual consent is okay to assume, F(2, 414) = 7.13, p = .001; Kevin's approach was acceptable, F(2, 414) = 13.85, p < .001; If Lisa really did not want to have sexual relations, she would have stopped Kevin, F(2, 414) = 4.34, p = .014. Finally, participants in the married 2 years condition agreed less that more explicit communication was necessary, F(2, 414) = 13. 57, p < .001, than in the first-date and dating 3 months conditions. See Table 1 for item means. Gender At the univariate level, 15 of the 17 items showed significant differences on the basis of gender. Men agreed more than women that Lisa consented to sexual activity, F(1, 414) = 14.21, p < .001; Consent was okay to assume, F(1, 414) = 21.00, p < .001; Lisa's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicated her consent, F(1, 414) = 11.54, p = .001; Kevin's nonverbal behavior clearly indicated he was asking for consent, F(1, 414) = 16.28, p < .001; Kevin's approach was acceptable, F(1, 414) = 14.38, p < .001; and If Lisa really did not want to have sexual relations, she would have stopped Kevin, F(1, 414) = 11.36, p = .001. Men also agreed more than women that Nonverbal behavior is just as effective as verbal communication to indicate consent, F(1, 414) = 22.66, p = .001; This couple could read each other's signals with enough accuracy to assume consent, F(1, 414) = 15.36, p < .001; Verbally asking for consent would have been awkward, F(1, 414) = 32.17, p < .001, and wrecked the mood, F(1, 414) = 33.06, p < .001. Women agreed more than men that More explicit communication was necessary, F(1, 414) = 13.38, p < .001; Kevin should have asked for consent verbally, F(1, 414) = 20.17, p < .001; Consent should be asked for and given before any kind of sexual activity, F(1, 414) = 17.58, p < .001; and that Kevin should have asked for consent to kiss Lisa, F(1, 414) = 6.30, p = .012, or touch her breast, F(1, 414) = 12.04, p = .001. See Table 2 for item means. Preferred Method of Consent Negotiation The forced-choice question that asked participants to choose one of two normative sexual consent scripts was analyzed an·a·lyze tr.v. an·a·lyzed, an·a·lyz·ing, an·a·lyz·es 1. To examine methodically by separating into parts and studying their interrelations. 2. Chemistry To make a chemical analysis of. 3. by gender using a chi-square test chi-square test: see statistics. of independence. Overall, participants preferred to assume consent (61%) than to ask for it first (39%) before engaging in sexual activity. Women (44%) were more likely than men (31%) to prefer the method of obtaining consent that involved asking prior to engaging in any sexual activity, whereas men (69%) were more likely than women (56%) to prefer assuming consent and continuing with sexual activity until the partner indicates otherwise, [chi square chi square (kī), n a nonparametric statistic used with discrete data in the form of frequency count (nominal data) or percentages or proportions that can be reduced to frequencies. ] (1, N = 414) = 6.37, p = .012. Relationship Experience and Sexual Behaviors The final question presented participants with two relationship contexts (new dating relationship and committed dating relationship) and asked which of 11 sexual behaviors required a clear and explicit indication of consent. McNemar's chi-square test McNemar's chi-square test see chi-square test. was used to compare the proportions of participants, in the two categories of relationship experience, who indicated which of the sexual behaviors required consent. The McNemar test is a nonparametric nonparametric said of statistical techniques which do not depend on the data having a normal or some other definable distribution. analysis using nominal measurement for dependent samples (Siegel, 1956). It utilizes pairwise comparisons of the distributions in the two relationship conditions. Comparing the two relationship conditions (two to three dates and 2 years dating), we obtained significance for all of the sexual behaviors with the exception of the final item, which asked about anal intercourse. In every case, a greater proportion of participants perceived the need for explicit consent in the newer relationship than in the more established relationship. It also is evident that the necessity of explicit consent is hierarchically hi·er·ar·chi·cal or hi·er·ar·chic or hi·er·ar·chal adj. Of or relating to a hierarchy. hi understood based on the intimacy of the sexual behavior. As the behaviors became progressively more intimate, the proportion of participants requiring consent increased. This result did not differ by gender. See Table 3 for percentages. Discussion The results suggest that relationship history does influence the perceived need for explicit consent. When the couple was portrayed por·tray tr.v. por·trayed, por·tray·ing, por·trays 1. To depict or represent pictorially; make a picture of. 2. To depict or describe in words. 3. To represent dramatically, as on the stage. as more experienced, in terms of length of relationship and sexual involvement, their actions were perceived as clearer in sexual intent, more acceptable, more consensual, and less in need of additional precautions precautions Infectious disease The constellation of activities intended to minimize exposure to an infectious agent; precautions imply that the isolation of an infected Pt is optional, but not mandatory. , such as explicit verbal consent at multiple stages of the sexual encounter. The influence of relationship history was supported with both the vignette manipulation and the sexual behavior checklist. More doubt was evident when the couple was portrayed as having little or no experience together (first date). These results support Shotland and Goodstein's (1992) precedence theory. The more established a relationship becomes, the more people assume and expect normative sexual activity. Therefore, sexual activity without verbal expressions Noun 1. verbal expression - the communication (in speech or writing) of your beliefs or opinions; "expressions of good will"; "he helped me find verbal expression for my ideas"; "the idea was immediate but the verbalism took hours" verbalism, expression of consent in relationships that have at least some history are seen as more acceptable than those same behaviors in relationships without experience. Intuitively this may not seem revolutionary given that we assume trust develops over time; however, this change in perception seems to happen quite early in relationships. In the current study, the post hoc post hoc adv. & adj. In or of the form of an argument in which one event is asserted to be the cause of a later event simply by virtue of having happened earlier: comparisons revealed that, most often, the first date condition differed from the other two conditions (dating 3 months and married 2 years). In other words Adv. 1. in other words - otherwise stated; "in other words, we are broke" put differently , the perceptual per·cep·tu·al adj. Of, based on, or involving perception. difference, and by extension sexual precedence, was occurring by the time the couple had been together 3 months, even though they were described as having been sexual on only a few occasions. Shotland and Goodstein (1992) found that precedence may be established as early as having only 10 prior consensual sexual encounters. The current study suggests even fewer. Only a few prior consensual sexual encounters seem to make the difference in terms of observed consent and appropriateness. The first date may be a special situation, which always is perceived differently given that there is no established relationship; however, it seems that, by 3 months, assumptions about consensual sexual activity have formed. Future research needs to tease apart Verb 1. tease apart - disentangle and raise the fibers of; "tease wool" loosen, tease unsnarl, disentangle, straighten out - extricate from entanglement; "Can you disentangle the cord?" the actual level of relationship experience perceived as appropriate to influence sexual consent negotiations. It may be that only two former consensual sexual experiences establish sexual precedence and thereby alter the way in which sexual consent is negotiated. Additional support for the influence of relationship history comes from the question assessing the need for explicit sexual consent across two different levels of relationship experience for a number of sexual behaviors. Here again, every sexual behavior from hugging to sexual intercourse differed with respect to its need for explicit consent. In every case, the newer relationship required explicit consent more often than the more established dating relationship. The only sexual behavior that did not differ across the relationship conditions was anal intercourse. Anal intercourse is a relatively rare activity for heterosexual couples (Laumann et al., 1994), and, as such, likely is perceived to require explicit consent regardless of the relationship status. Gender The gender differences demonstrate that women, more than men, interpret explicit sexual consent as more necessary during sexual encounters, regardless of the relationship. This finding is an extension of the general literature demonstrating that women take the issue of sexual assault far more seriously (Ben-David & Schneider, 2005; McDonald & Kline, 2004) than do men. At the heart of much of the research on perceptions of sexual assault is the question of whether participants believe that sexual consent itself has been negotiated adequately and understood by the parties involved. Unfortunately, very little of this research actually asks participants whether they believe consent has occurred. Ambiguous situations lead women to be more cautious in their interpretations of consent and acceptability. This is not without good reason, given that women are more likely to be victims if these situations turn coercive co·er·cive adj. Characterized by or inclined to coercion. co·er cive·ly adv. (Basile et al., 2006; Davies, 2002;
Laumann, et al., 1994; Struckman-Johnson, 1988). Differences in gender
socialization socialization /so·cial·iza·tion/ (so?shal-i-za´shun) the process by which society integrates the individual and the individual learns to behave in socially acceptable ways. so·cial·i·za·tion n. also suggest that the issue of sexual consent may be more important to women than to men. Socialized to be the limit-setters of relationships, women have a traditional sexual script that includes giving permission for sexual activity, while men's sexual script includes initiating sexual involvement. This suggests that men are less guarded about sexual consent and also less worried about sexual assault. The lack of an interaction between the relationship history of the vignette couple and the gender of the participants suggests that the traditional sexual script is not influenced by the relationship experience, at least on a perceptual level. Future researchers should examine whether the participant's own relationship experience influences how he or she negotiates and understands sexual consent in his or her own life. It is likely that measures such as relationship quality and satisfaction will factor heavily into these negotiations since qualitative research Qualitative research Traditional analysis of firm-specific prospects for future earnings. It may be based on data collected by the analysts, there is no formal quantitative framework used to generate projections. suggests that participants state a lack of verbal consent due to their comfort and knowledge of a partner (Humphreys, 2001). When given the choice of methods for negotiating sexual consent, more students preferred to assume that they had consent rather than ask first, but again there is a gender difference. Women were fairly evenly split on this question, while men preferred assuming consent much more than asking first. This preference for assuming consent is supported by research stating that young adults are using more nonverbal signals and cues during sexual encounters than verbal ones (Beres, Herold, & Maitland, 2004; Hall, 1998; Hickman & Muehlenhard, 1999). It also fits well with the traditional sexual script for men, which suggests that men should initiate sexual activity (not ask for consent; Byers, 1996; Rose & Frieze frieze, in architecture, the member of an entablature between the architrave and the cornice or any horizontal band used for decorative purposes. In the first type the Doric frieze alternates the metope and the triglyph; that of the other orders is plain or , 1989). The even split on these two tactics for women is more perplexing per·plex tr.v. per·plexed, per·plex·ing, per·plex·es 1. To confuse or trouble with uncertainty or doubt. See Synonyms at puzzle. 2. To make confusedly intricate; complicate. . It is possible that many women think it is emasculating or simply unromantic for a man to ask permission for sexual acts, especially "minor" ones. In addition, assuming "yes" until one is told "no" does not necessarily mean that the end result is intercourse. It may be the case that many women do not mind if a man makes moves toward intercourse as long as he stops once a woman signals "no." The difficulty is that the question did not ask participants who they thought should be doing the verbal asking. Therefore, it is impossible to determine whether women perceive their own sexual script as changing or whether they are ambivalent am·biv·a·lent adj. Exhibiting or feeling ambivalence. am·biv a·lent·ly adv.Adj. 1. about men asking for consent. This is a worthy question to pursue. Limitations The present study utilized university students and therefore caution should be taken in generalizing beyond this population. Future researchers should utilize community samples to examine perceptions of sexual consent and its links to sexual precedence. With the diversity of education in the community, it is possible that there are stronger ties to traditional sexual scripts and, in turn, greater differentiation between women and men and among levels of relationship history. In addition, the variable relationship history confounded the relationship length, type (married vs. unmarried), and sexual experience of the couple. On a practical level, these variables usually are confounded in people's lived experiences as well, adding to the study's realism. Within a specific type of relationship, however, it would be interesting to examine these variables in isolation. Research currently is underway to assess the relative importance of relationship length and sexual history on perceptions of consent. Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Terry Humphreys, Psychology Department, Trent University
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Greer, A. E. & Buss, D. M. (1994). Tactics for promoting sexual encounters. The Journal of Sex Research, 31, 185-201. Hall, D. S. (1995). Consent for sexual behaviour in a college student population. Unpublished doctoral dissertation dis·ser·ta·tion n. A lengthy, formal treatise, especially one written by a candidate for the doctoral degree at a university; a thesis. dissertation Noun 1. . The Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, San Francisco, California “San Francisco” redirects here. For other uses, see San Francisco (disambiguation). The City and County of San Francisco (EN IPA: [sænfrənˈsɪskoʊ] . Hall, D. S. (1998, August 10). Consent for sexual behavior in a college student population. Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality, 1, Retrieved November 10, 1999, from http://www.ejhs.org/volumel/consentl.htm Hickman, S. E. & Muehlenhard, C. L. (1999). 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While the U of G offers degrees in many different disciplines, the university is best known for its focus on life sciences, based in part on a long-standing history of , 2000). Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 61, 6760. Humphreys, T. P. (2004). Understanding sexual consent: An empirical investigation of the normative script for young heterosexual adults. In M. Cowling & P. Reynolds (Eds.), Making sense of sexual consent. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate. Johnson, C. B., Stockdale, M. S., & Saal, F. E. (1991). Persistence of men's misperceptions of friendly cues across a variety of interpersonal in·ter·per·son·al adj. 1. Of or relating to the interactions between individuals: interpersonal skills. 2. encounters. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 15, 463-475. LaPlante, M. N., McCormick, N., & Brannigan, G. G. (1980). Living the sexual script: College students' views of influence in sexual encounters. Journal of Sex Research, 16, 338-355. Lim, G. Y. & Roloff, M. E. (1999). Attributing sexual consent. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 27, 1-23. Laumann, E. O., Gagnon, J. H., Michael, R. T., & Michaels, S. (1994). The social organization of sexuality." Sexual practices in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Chicago: The University of Chicago Press The University of Chicago Press is the largest university press in the United States. It is operated by the University of Chicago and publishes a wide variety of academic titles, including The Chicago Manual of Style, dozens of academic journals, including . Margolin, L., Miller, M., & Moran, P. B. (1989). When a kiss is not just a kiss: Relating violations of consent in kissing to rape myth acceptance. Sex Roles, 20, 231-243. McDonald, T. W. & Kline, L. A. (2004). Perceptions of appropriate punishment for committing date rape: Male college student recommend lenient le·ni·ent adj. Inclined not to be harsh or strict; merciful, generous, or indulgent: lenient parents; lenient rules. punishments. College Student Journal, 38, 44-56. Metts, S. & Spitzberg, B. H. (1996). Sexual communication in interpersonal contexts: A script-based approach. In B. R. Burleson (Ed.), Communication yearbook 19 (pp. 49-91). New Brunswick New Brunswick, province, Canada New Brunswick, province (2001 pop. 729,498), 28,345 sq mi (73,433 sq km), including 519 sq mi (1,345 sq km) of water surface, E Canada. , NJ: International Communication Association. Monson, C. M., Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J., & Binderup, T. (2000). Does "no" really mean "no" after you say "yes"? Attributions about date and marital Pertaining to the relationship of Husband and Wife; having to do with marriage. Marital agreements are contracts that are entered into by individuals who are about to be married, are already married, or are in the process of ending a marriage. rape. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 15, 1156-1174. Muehlenhard, C. L. (1988). "Nice women" don't say yes and "real men" don't say no: How miscommunication mis·com·mu·ni·ca·tion n. 1. Lack of clear or adequate communication. 2. An unclear or inadequate communication. and the double standard can cause sexual problems. Women and Therapy, 7, 95-108. Muehlenhard, C. L., Friedman, D. E., & Thomas, C. M. (1985). Is date rape justifiable jus·ti·fi·a·ble adj. Having sufficient grounds for justification; possible to justify: justifiable resentment. jus ? Psychology of Women Quarterly, 2, 297-310. Muehlenhard, C. L., Koralewski, M. A., Andrews, C. L., & Burdick, C. A. (1986). Verbal and nonverbal cues that convey interest in dating: Two studies. Behavior Therapy behavior therapy or behavior modification, in psychology, treatment of human behavioral disorders through the reinforcement of acceptable behavior and suppression of undesirable behavior. , 17, 404-419. O'Sullivan, L. F. & Byers, E. S. (1992). College students' incorporation of initiator and restrictor roles in sexual dating interactions. Journal of Sex Research, 29, 435-446. Rose, S. & Frieze, I. H. (1989). Young singles' scripts for a first date. Gender and Society, 3, 258-268. Sawyer, R., Desmond, S., & Lucke, G. (1993). Sexual communication and the college student: Implications for date rape. Health Values, 17, 11-20. Semonsky, M. R. & Rosenfeld, L. B. (1994). Perceptions of sexual violations sexual violation A form of sexual misconduct defined as physician-patient sexual relations, regardless of who initiated the relationship, which includes genital intercourse, oral sexual contact, anal intercourse, mutual masturbation. : Denying a kiss, stealing a kiss. Sex Roles, 30, 503-520. Shotland, R. L. & Goodstein, L. (1992). Sexual precedence reduces the perceived legitimacy LEGITIMACY. The state of being born in wedlock; that is, in a lawful manner. 2. Marriage is considered by all civilized nations as the only source of legitimacy; the qualities of husband and wife must be possessed by the parents in order to make the offspring of sexual refusal: An examination of attributions concerning date rape and consensual sex. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin is a scientific journal published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP). It publishes original empirical papers on subjects like social cognition, attitudes, group processes, social influence, intergroup relations, , 18, 756-764. Siegel, S. (1956). 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Table 1. Sexual Consent Questions by Relationship Condition
First Date
Kevin consented to sexual activity [6.48.sub.a]
Lisa consented to sexual activity [4.12.sub.a]
Kevin's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate [6.49.sub.a]
that he has consented to sexual activity
Lisa's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate [3.52.sub.a]
that she has consented to sexual activity
Kevin's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate [4.92.sub.a]
that he is asking for consent to engage
in sexual activity
Kevin should have asked for consent [5.58.sub.a]
verbally before proceeding
Verbally asking for consent would have [2.95.sub.a]
"wrecked the mood"
This couples' nonverbal behaviors are just [3.55.sub.a]
as effective as verbal communication
to indicate sexual consent
Sexual consent is okay to assume in [3.56.sub.a]
this context
More explicit sexual communication is [5.12.sub.a]
necessary in this situation
Verbally asking for consent would have [3.51.sub.a]
been awkward
The approach Kevin took to initiating sexual [3.32.sub.a]
activity is acceptable
Kevin should have asked for consent to kiss Lisa [3.39.sub.a]
Kevin should have asked for consent to [4.47.sub.a]
touch Lisa's breast
Consent should be asked for and given before [4.49.sub.a]
any kind of sexual activity began
This couple was able to read each other's signals [3.53.sub.a]
with enough accuracy to assume sexual consent
If Lisa really didn't want to have sexual [4.75.sub.a]
relations, she would have stopped Kevin
3 Months
Dating
Kevin consented to sexual activity [6.63.sub.a]
Lisa consented to sexual activity [4.58.sub.a]
Kevin's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate [6.54.sub.a]
that he has consented to sexual activity
Lisa's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate [3.62.sub.a]
that she has consented to sexual activity
Kevin's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate [4.96.sub.a]
that he is asking for consent to engage
in sexual activity
Kevin should have asked for consent [5.00.sub.b]
verbally before proceeding
Verbally asking for consent would have [3.54.sub.b]
"wrecked the mood"
This couples' nonverbal behaviors are just [4.25.sub.b]
as effective as verbal communication
to indicate sexual consent
Sexual consent is okay to assume in [4.18.sub.b]
this context
More explicit sexual communication is [4.86.sub.a]
necessary in this situation
Verbally asking for consent would have [3.75.sub.a]
been awkward
The approach Kevin took to initiating sexual [3.98.sub.b]
activity is acceptable
Kevin should have asked for consent to kiss Lisa [2.53.sub.b]
Kevin should have asked for consent to [3.39.sub.b]
touch Lisa's breast
Consent should be asked for and given before [3.60.sub.b]
any kind of sexual activity began
This couple was able to read each other's signals [4.26.sub.b]
with enough accuracy to assume sexual consent
If Lisa really didn't want to have sexual [5.24.sub.b]
relations, she would have stopped Kevin
2 Years
Married
Kevin consented to sexual activity [6.56.sub.a]
Lisa consented to sexual activity [4.56.sub.a]
Kevin's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate [6.48.sub.a]
that he has consented to sexual activity
Lisa's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate [3.86.sub.a]
that she has consented to sexual activity
Kevin's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate [5.17.sub.a]
that he is asking for consent to engage
in sexual activity
Kevin should have asked for consent [4.44.sub.c]
verbally before proceeding
Verbally asking for consent would have [3.88.sub.b]
"wrecked the mood"
This couples' nonverbal behaviors are just [4.72.sub.c]
as effective as verbal communication
to indicate sexual consent
Sexual consent is okay to assume in [4.47.sub.b]
this context
More explicit sexual communication is [4.11.sub.b]
necessary in this situation
Verbally asking for consent would have [3.90.sub.a]
been awkward
The approach Kevin took to initiating sexual [4.39.sub.b]
activity is acceptable
Kevin should have asked for consent to kiss Lisa [2.36.sub.b]
Kevin should have asked for consent to [2.97.sub.c]
touch Lisa's breast
Consent should be asked for and given before [3.53.sub.b]
any kind of sexual activity began
This couple was able to read each other's signals [4.82.sub.c]
with enough accuracy to assume sexual consent
If Lisa really didn't want to have sexual [5.51.sub.b]
relations, she would have stopped Kevin
p
Kevin consented to sexual activity .867
Lisa consented to sexual activity .127
Kevin's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate .916
that he has consented to sexual activity
Lisa's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate .398
that she has consented to sexual activity
Kevin's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate .723
that he is asking for consent to engage
in sexual activity
Kevin should have asked for consent .000
verbally before proceeding
Verbally asking for consent would have .004
"wrecked the mood"
This couples' nonverbal behaviors are just .000
as effective as verbal communication
to indicate sexual consent
Sexual consent is okay to assume in .001
this context
More explicit sexual communication is .000
necessary in this situation
Verbally asking for consent would have .371
been awkward
The approach Kevin took to initiating sexual .000
activity is acceptable
Kevin should have asked for consent to kiss Lisa .000
Kevin should have asked for consent to .000
touch Lisa's breast
Consent should be asked for and given before .000
any kind of sexual activity began
This couple was able to read each other's signals .000
with enough accuracy to assume sexual consent
If Lisa really didn't want to have sexual .014
relations, she would have stopped Kevin
Note. Judgements were made on 7-point scales (1 = strongly disagree,
7 = strongly agree). Means in the same row that share the same
subscript do not differ significantly at alpha = .05 in the
Bonferroni post hoc comparison.
Table 2. Sexual Consent Questions by Gender
Men Women
Kevin consented to sexual activity 6.65 6.51
Lisa consented to sexual activity 4.80 4.20
Kevin's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate 6.56 6.47
that he has consented to sexual activity
Lisa's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate 4.04 3.45
that she has consented to sexual activity
Kevin's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate 5.50 4.74
that he is asking for consent to engage
in sexual activity
Kevin should have asked for consent verbally 4.46 5.32
before proceeding
Verbally asking for consent would have 4.13 3.08
"wrecked the mood"
This couple's nonverbal behaviors are just 4.71 3.87
as effective as verbal communication
to indicate sexual consent
Sexual consent is okay to assume in this context 4.58 3.78
More explicit sexual communication is 4.28 4.94
necessary in this situation
Verbally asking for consent would have been awkward 4.35 3.36
The approach Kevin took to initiating sexual 4.32 3.66
activity is acceptable
Kevin should have asked for consent to kiss Lisa 2.49 2.91
Kevin should have asked for consent to 3.24 3.82
touch Lisa's breast
Consent should be asked for and given before 3.41 4.13
any kind of sexual activity began
This couple was able to read each other's signals 4.66 3.95
with enough accuracy to assume sexual consent
If Lisa really didn't want to have sexual relations, 5.55 4.95
she would have stopped Kevin
p
Kevin consented to sexual activity .162
Lisa consented to sexual activity .000
Kevin's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate .378
that he has consented to sexual activity
Lisa's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate .001
that she has consented to sexual activity
Kevin's nonverbal behaviors clearly indicate .000
that he is asking for consent to engage
in sexual activity
Kevin should have asked for consent verbally .000
before proceeding
Verbally asking for consent would have .000
"wrecked the mood"
This couple's nonverbal behaviors are just .000
as effective as verbal communication
to indicate sexual consent
Sexual consent is okay to assume in this context .000
More explicit sexual communication is .000
necessary in this situation
Verbally asking for consent would have been awkward .000
The approach Kevin took to initiating sexual .000
activity is acceptable
Kevin should have asked for consent to kiss Lisa .012
Kevin should have asked for consent to .001
touch Lisa's breast
Consent should be asked for and given before .000
any kind of sexual activity began
This couple was able to read each other's signals .000
with enough accuracy to assume sexual consent
If Lisa really didn't want to have sexual relations, .001
she would have stopped Kevin
Note. Judgements were made on 7-point scales (1 = strongly disagree,
7 = strongly agree).
Table 3. Percentage of Participants Requiring Explicit Consent
for Sexual Behaviors by Relationship Experience
Sexual Behavior New Committed
Dating Dating
Relationship Relationship
Hugging 15 4
Kissing 38 6
Touching breasts/chest 68 11
over clothes
Touching breasts/chest 78 21
under clothes
Touching genitals 79 24
over clothes
Touching genitals under clothes 86 37
Removing partner's clothes 86 42
Masturbating partner 88 53
Oral sex 90 57
Penile/vaginal intercourse 92 63
Anal intercourse 91 88
Sexual Behavior [chi square]
Hugging 43.02 ***
Kissing 127.18 ***
Touching breasts/chest 209.19 ***
over clothes
Touching breasts/chest 200.09 ***
under clothes
Touching genitals 192.74 ***
over clothes
Touching genitals under clothes 157.15 ***
Removing partner's clothes 146.26 ***
Masturbating partner 103.55 ***
Oral sex 96.02 ***
Penile/vaginal intercourse 80.45 ***
Anal intercourse 2.09
Note. McNemar chi-square test, *** p < .001.
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