Abstract
In two studies, the construct (convergent and discriminant) validity and test-retest reliability of a date rape decision-latency measure was examined. In Study 1, 174 college men completed measures related to sexual aggression and listened to an audiotaped simulation of a date rape, during which cues of nonconsent and force gradually escalated over time. Participants were instructed to respond, by pressing a button which recorded the latency of their decisions in seconds, if and when they believed the man depicted in the scenario should stop his sexual advances. Results demonstrated positive associations between prolonged decision latencies and sexually aggressive behavior, calloused sexual beliefs, acceptance of interpersonal violence, and sexual promiscuity. In Study 2, initial results were cross-validated in a sample of 102 college men, and discriminant validity was established as decision latencies were unassociated with measures of social desirability, alcohol consumption and drug use. Test-retest reliability assessed over a 2-week interval was .87.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bernat, J. A. (1997).Sexual arousal and judgements of terminating unwanted sexual advances in sexually coercive and noncoercive college men, Unpublished masters thesis. Athens: University of Georgia.
Bernat, J. A., Wilson, A. E., & Calhoun, K. S. (1997).Sexual coercion history, calloused sexual beliefs, and judgements of sexual coercion in a date rape analogue (submitted for publication).
Bernat, J. A., Stolp, S., & Calhoun, K. S. (1997).Sexually coercive men's decisions to terminate an audiotape date rape analogue: Alcohol as a disinhibiting cue (submitted for publication).
Blader, J. C., & Marshall, W. L. (1989). Is assessment of sexual arousal in rapists worthwhile? A critique of current methods and the development of a response compatibility approach.Clinical Psychology Review, 9, 569–587.
Burt, M. R. (1980). Cultural myths and supports for rape.Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 38, 217–230.
Calhoun, K. S., Atkeson, B. M., & Resick, P. A. (1982). A longitudinal examination of fear reactions in victims of rape.Journal of Counseling Psychology, 29, 655–661.
Check, J. V. P. (1985).The Hostility Toward Women Scale. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Check, J. V. P., Malamuth, N. M., Elias, B., & Barton, S. (1985). On hostile ground.Psychology Today, 19, 56–61.
Check, J. V. P., & Malamuth, N. M. (1984). Can there be positive effects of participation in pornography experiments?Journal of Sex Research, 20, 14–31.
Crowne, D. P., & Marlowe, D. (1964).The approval motive: Studies in evaluative dependence. New York: Wiley.
Hall, G. C. N. (1990). Prediction of sexual aggression.Clinical Psychology Review, 10, 229–245.
Hall, G. C. N., & Hirschman, R. (1994). The relationship between sexual aggression inside and outside the laboratory.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 375–380.
Kaplan, R. M., & Saccuzzo, D. P. (1982).Psychological Testing: Principles, Applications, and Issues. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Kimerling, R., & Calhoun, K. S. (1994). Somatic symptoms, social support, and treatment seeking among sexual assault victims.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 333–340.
Koss, M. P., & Gidycz, C. A. (1985). The Sexual Experiences Survey: Reliability and validity.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 422–423.
Koss, M. P., Gidycz, C. A., & Wisniewski, N. (1987). The scope of rape: Incidence and prevalence of sexual victimization in a national sample of higher education students.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 162–170.
Koss, M. P., Goodman, L. A., Brown, A., Fitzgerald, L. F., Keita, G. P., & Russo, N. F. (1994).No safe haven: Male violence against women at home, at work, and in the community. Washington, DC: American. Psychological Association.
Lohr, B. A., Adams, H. E., & Davis, J. M. (1997). Sexual arousal to erotic and aggressive stimuli in sexually coercive and noncoercive men.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 106, 230–242.
Malamuth, N. M. (1986). Predictors of naturalistic sexual aggression.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, 953–962.
Malamuth, N. M. (1988). Predicting laboratory aggression against male v. female targets: Implications for research on aggression.Journal of Research in Personality, 33, 474–495.
Malamuth, N. M., & Check, J. V. P. (1983). Sexual arousal to rape depictions: Individual differences.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 92 55–67.
Malamuth, N. M., & Thornhill, N. W. (1994). Hostile masculinity, sexual aggression, and gender-biased domineeringness in conversations.Aggressive Behavior, 20, 185–193.
Malamuth, N. M., Check, J. V. P., & Briere, J. (1986). Sexual arousal in response to aggression: Ideological, aggressive, and sexual correlates.Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 50, 330–340.
Malamuth, N. M., Sockloskie, R., Koss, M. P., & Tanaka, J. S. (1991). The characteristics of aggressors against women: Testing a model using a national sample of college students.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 670–681.
Malamuth, N. M., Linz, D., Heavy, C. L., Barnes, G., & Acker, M. (1995). Using the confluence model of sexual aggression to predict men's conflict with women: A 10-year follow-up study.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69, 353–369.
Marx, B. P., & Gross, A. M. (1995). Date rape: An analysis of two contextual variables.Behavior Modification, 19, 451–463.
Mosher, D. L., & Anderson, R. D. (1986). Macho personality, sexual aggression, and reactions to guided imagery of realistic rape.Journal of Research in Personality, 20, 77–94.
Mosher, D. L., & Sirkin, M. (1984). Measuring a macho personality constellation.Journal of Research in Personality, 18, 150–163.
Porter, J. F., & Critelli, J. W. (1994). Self-talk and sexual arousal in sexual aggression.Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 13, 223–239.
Schewe, P. A., & O'Donohue, W. (1993). Sexual abuse prevention with high risk males: The roles of victim empathy and rape myths.Violence & Victims, 8, 339–351.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The authors wish to thank Alan Gross and Brian Marx for providing the audiotaped stimulus materials, Richard Marsh for writing the decision-latency computer program, Jason Hicks for assisting with programming, and the undergraduate research assistants for serving as experimenters.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bernat, J.A., Stolp, S., Calhoun, K.S. et al. Construct validity and test-retest reliability of a date rape decision-latency measure. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 19, 315–330 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02229024
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02229024