Men’s Sexual Interest Perceptions and Sexual Harassment/Assaults Against Women: Mediating Effects of Sexual Refusal Cognition Bias

Abstract

Sexual harassment and assault against women are global and public issues that must be addressed. Previous studies indicate that men’s misunderstanding regarding women’s sexual consent may be a key factor in sexual harassment and sexual assault cases. The underlying mechanism for the association between men’s sexual interest perception and sexual harassment/assault behavior, however, remains unclear. In this study, we explored whether cognition bias (i.e., sexual refusal cognition bias, which include interpretation bias and behavioral intentions) mediated the association between men’s sexual interest perception and sexual harassment/assault against women. A sample of 280 heterosexual Chinese men were recruited. A measure of sexual refusal cognition bias was developed, encompassing two factors: interpretation bias and behavioral intentions. Sexual refusal cognition bias was significantly associated with sexual harassment and sexual assault. Sexual interest perception had a significant indirect effect (β = 0.130/0.071) on sexual harassment and sexual assault through serial mediations of interpretation bias and behavioral intentions. These findings may be valuable in enhancing an understanding of sexual violence against women and contribute to sexual assault and sexual harassment prevention and education efforts.

Keywords

sexual interest perception sexual overperception bias sexual refusal cognition bias sexual harassment and assault sexual consent

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