The assessment of social skills among sexually coercive college males

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between sexual coercion and social competence in a college population. Males who self‐reported low, moderate, and high levels of sexual coercion were administered several performance and paper‐and‐pencil measures designed to assess global social competence and specific skills, such as assertiveness, and social perception, or cue‐reading. In addition, subjects were administered questionnaires designed to assess attitudes towards women, rape myths, and hypermasculinity. While the attitude instruments measuring sexual callousness and acceptance of interpersonal violence discriminated among coercion groups, performance or paper‐and‐pencil measures of social competence and skills did not, despite the large number and array of measures. This research does not support the notion that men engage in coercive sexual behavior because they lack the appropriate social skills. Suggestions for future research include the examination of disinhibitory factors such as the use of alcohol as well as characterological and personality features that may facilitate the transition from aggressive attitudes to aggressive behavior.