Hypotheses

1. Predicting Acceptance of Interpersonal Violence from Sexual and Aggressive Beliefs and Experiences across Non-Virgins and Virgins in a sample of College Males Adam Sempek • Hypotheses • (1) The seven factors (sexual experience, experience of childhood sexual abuse, rape proclivity, rape myth acceptance, non-sexual aggression, relationships with delinquent peers, and experience of childhood physical abuse) will form a strong model for predicting a male’s acceptance of interpersonal violence. • (2) The structures of the models will be different between Virgins and Non-Virgins, working better for Non-Virgins • (3) When divided into sexual (sexual experience, experience of childhood sexual abuse, rape proclivity, and rape myth acceptance) and aggressive factors (non-sexual aggression, relationships with delinquent peers, and experience of childhood physical abuse), that the sexual model will have a higher predictive utility for non-virgins and the aggressive model will have a higher predictive utility for virgins. • It is believed that a male’s sexual experience will be a determining variable in the certain factors that predict his acceptance of interpersonal violence. • Discussion • (1) The seven predictor model formed a strong model for the prediction of a male’s acceptance of interpersonal violence as hypothesized. • Supported by research • Non-sexual aggression not distinguished in literature • (2) The structures of the models will be different between Virgins and Non-Virgins, working better for Non-Virgins. • Seven predictor model worked better for Non-Virgins • Lack of evidence concerning the two populations predictors of acceptance of interpersonal violence. • More interesting is how the populations differed. • Results show that a male’s acceptance of rape myths played a significant role in his acceptance of interpersonal violence for both populations. • Examination of the beta weights shows that a male’s acceptance of interpersonal violence is a stronger predictor for Non-Virgins than for Virgins. • Aberle, and Littlefield (2001) • No research on this relationship for virgins • A male’s acceptance of rape myths was the only predictor to carry a significant regression weight for both of the populations. • Offender status for Non-Virgins and childhood physical abuse for Virgins. • Partially supported by Whitfield, Anda, Dube, and Felitti (2003), and Merrill, Thomsen, Gold, Milner, Koss, and Rosswork (1999) • No distinguishing difference in the literature for whether childhood physical abuse plays a different role for virgins and non-virgins. • (3) Contrary to the hypothesis, the reduced Sexual model > Aggressive model for both Virgins and Non-Virgins • Majority of the literature does not typically distinguish between a model of Sexual predictors and a model of Aggressive predictors • Further research is required. • Sexual Model • The literature and results from this study show that a males acceptance of rape myths is a significant predictor of interpersonal violence. • Significant predictor for both Virgins and Non-Virgins • Partially supported by Rietzel-Jaffe, and Wolfe (2001). • Acceptance of rape myths had very strong predictive power • Aggressive Model • Childhood physical abuse contributed significantly to the prediction of a males interpersonal violence. • Whitfield, Anda, Dube, and Felitti (2003), and Merrill, Thomsen, Gold, Milner, Koss, and Rosswork (1999). • Strictly the case for the Non-Virgin group. • Full model, childhood physical abuse was strictly a predictor of Virgins acceptance of interpersonal violence. • Non-Sexual aggression may be a significant predictor when separated from stronger Sexual predictors. Table 3. Multiple regression weights from the Non-Virgin and Virgin group participants . Non-Virgin Virgin Variable b β b β . PA .331 .030 2.64** .272 SA 1.49 .021 1.98 .101 CNC^ -2.17*** -.202 -.783 -.016 LTR .241 .034 .048 .008 DP -1.22 -.103 -.032 -.003 AQ -.028 -.092 -.045 -.168 RAPE -.148*** -.403 -.082* -.258 . ^coded as 1=coercer 2=non-coercer *p<.05 **p<.01 ***p<.001 Abstract This study was conducted to test the predictive value of sexual beliefs and experiences (i.e., childhood sexual abuse, RAPE scale) and aggressive beliefs and experiences (i.e., childhood physical abuse, AQ scale) for the acceptance of interpersonal violence across sexual experience from 304 college males ranging in age from 19 to 46, with a mean age of 21.37(2.87). Results indicated that different predictors played a greater role depending on the sexual experience of the male, however, the model worked significantly better for non-virgins. In an exploratory follow up that reduced the model into two models, Sexual and Aggression, neither reduced model worked better for Virgins, however, for Non-Virgins the Sexual model worked better. • Introduction • Carr, and VanDeusen (2002), found that there was a link between a male’s acceptance of interpersonal violence and his level of sexual aggression. • Higher sexual aggression linked with higher acceptance of interpersonal violence. • Rietzel-Jaffe, and Wolfe (2001), found that the experience of abuse as a child plays a role in a male’s use of violence towards an intimate partner. • Childhood abuse linked with more violence towards intimate partner. • Aberle, and Littlefield (2001), showed that conflict in a male's household was linked to his acceptance of interpersonal violence and acceptance of rape myths. • Conflict linked to higher acceptance of rape myths and interpersonal violence. • Schreck, and Fisher (2004), found that the more time an adolescent spent away from the home, interacting with peers who committed acts of delinquency (i.e., sneaking out) had a higher rate of acceptance of violence. • Whitfield, Anda, Dube, and Felitti (2003), found that physical abuse experienced as a child had the potential of doubling a males acceptance and utilization of violence against their intimate partner. • Similar results found by Merrill, Thomsen, Gold, Milner, Koss, and Rosswork (1999) in a population of male Navy recruits. • No substantial research on sexual experience (virgin vs. non-virgins) was found. • Methods • Archival data set used (DeGue & DiLillo, in press) • Participants • 304 college males enrolled in undergraduate psychology courses • Age 19-46 (M = 21.37, Std = 2.87) • 87.8% Caucasian, 2.6% African American, 1.6% Hispanic, 3.3% Asian, .3% Native American, .3% Pacific Islander, and 3.9% other. • 97(31.9%) were virgins, and the other 207(68.1%) were non-virgins. • Non-virgins: 91(45.3%) were labeled sexual coercers and 110(54.7%) were labeled non-offenders. • Virgins, one (1%) were labeled sexual coercers and 96(99%) were labeled non-offenders • Procedure • Extra Credit • Web-Based, Online Consent • Demographics and SEQ filled out first, the remaining scales in random order. • Materials • RAPE Scale (Bumby, 1996). • Acceptance of Interpersonal Violence (AIV; Burt, 1980). • Aggression Questionnaire (AQ; Buss & Perry, 1992). • Likelihood of Raping item (LR; Malamuth, 1981). • Delinquency indicators (Malamuth, Sockloskie, Koss, & Tanaka, 1991). • Computer Administered Maltreatment Inventory (CAMI; Nash, DiLillo, Messman-Moore, & Rinkol, 2002.) • Sexual Experience Questionnaire (SEQ; Lisak & Roth, 1988). Table 6. Multiple regression weights from the Sexual Model and Aggression Model for Non-Virgin and Virgin group participants . Non-Virgin Sexual Model Aggression Model Variable b β Variable b β . SA 1.59 .076 PA 1.75 .150* CNC^ -2.318 -.216*** DP -.784 -.065 LTR .312 .043 AQ -.084 -.268*** RAPE -.155 -.422*** . Virgin Sexual Model Aggression Model Variable b β Variable b β . SA 3.48 .178 PA 1.13 .120 CNC^ 1.04 .022 DP .796 .084 LTR .270 .044 AQ -.084 -.311*** RAPE -.105 -.333*** . ^coded as 1=coercer 2=non-coercer *p<.05 **p<.01 ***p<.001 Special Thanks Given to Dr. David DiLillo, and Sarah DeGue, M.A.