Vescio, Theresa K and Schermerhorn, Nathaniel EC and Lewis, Kathrine A and Yamaguchi-Pedroza, Katsumi and Loviscky, Abigail J (2025) Masculinity Threats Sequentially Arouse Public Discomfort, Anger, and Positive Attitudes Toward Sexual Violence. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 51 (1). pp. 96-109. DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672231179431
Vescio, Theresa K and Schermerhorn, Nathaniel EC and Lewis, Kathrine A and Yamaguchi-Pedroza, Katsumi and Loviscky, Abigail J (2025) Masculinity Threats Sequentially Arouse Public Discomfort, Anger, and Positive Attitudes Toward Sexual Violence. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 51 (1). pp. 96-109. DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672231179431
Vescio, Theresa K and Schermerhorn, Nathaniel EC and Lewis, Kathrine A and Yamaguchi-Pedroza, Katsumi and Loviscky, Abigail J (2025) Masculinity Threats Sequentially Arouse Public Discomfort, Anger, and Positive Attitudes Toward Sexual Violence. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 51 (1). pp. 96-109. DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672231179431
Abstract
Three experiments ( N = 943) tested whether men (but not women) responded to gender threats with increased concern about how one looks in the eyes of others (i.e., public discomfort) and subsequent anger that, in turn, predicted attitudes about sexual violence. Consistent with predictions, for men, learning that one is like a woman was associated with threat-related emotions (public discomfort and anger) that, in turn, predicted the increased likelihood to express intent to engage in quid-pro-quo sexual harassment (Study 1), recall sexually objectifying others (Study 2), endorse sexual narcissism (Study 2), and accept rape myths (Study 3). These findings support the notion that failures to uphold normative and socially valued embodiments of masculinity are associated with behavioral intentions and attitudes associated with sexual violence. The implications of these findings for the endurance of sexual violence are discussed.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | masculinity; sexual harassment; objectification; rape myths; sexual narcissism |
Divisions: | Faculty of Science and Health Faculty of Science and Health > Psychology, Department of |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 30 Jun 2025 11:18 |
Last Modified: | 30 Jun 2025 11:19 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/36321 |
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Filename: vescio-et-al-2023-masculinity-threats-sequentially-arouse-public-discomfort-anger-and-positive-attitudes-toward-sexual.pdf
Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0