Psychology ETDs

Publication Date

2-1-2012

Abstract

This study examined how alcohol intoxication, victimization history, and sexual attitudes affect womens perception of and responses to high risk dating and social situations. One hundred and seventeen college women were randomly assigned to an alcohol or control (no-alcohol) condition. Participants read 15 vignettes describing high risk dating and social situations, rated the degree of victimization risk in each situation, and indicated how likely they would be to respond to each situation in a passive, acquiescent, assertive, and aggressive way. Results revealed that, regardless of condition, women with more liberal sexual attitudes made lower risk ratings than women with less liberal sexual attitudes. In addition, women in the alcohol condition reported that they would respond in a more acquiescent way to the situations than women in the control group. Women with a more severe victimization history in the alcohol condition reported they were more likely to respond acquiescently than women in the control group. Surprisingly, women with more liberal sexual attitudes assigned to the alcohol condition reported that they would respond in a less passive way to the situations than women in the alcohol group with less liberal sexual attitudes. Results suggest that preventative interventions for college women might address the relationship between alcohol use and liberal sexual attitudes and women's risk for sexual victimization.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Smith, Jane Ellen

Second Committee Member

Moyers, Theresa

Third Committee Member

Bogenschutz, Michael

Sponsors

University of New Mexico, Office of Graduate Studies; Graduate and Professional Student Association.

Language

English

Keywords

Women college students--Alcohol use--Social aspects--United States, Women college students--Abuse of, Women college students--Attitudes.

Document Type

Dissertation

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