Power Affects Perceptions of Sexual Willingness: Implications for Litigating Sexual Assault Allegations

Abstract

How potential sexual partners and third-party observers perceive women's sexual intentions can affect the propensity to commit or excuse sexual aggression. We examined the effect of feelings of power on interpretations of women's behaviors. We expected manipulated feelings of power to systematically influence perceivers' interpretations of sexual intent from women's ambiguous behaviors. Data from 314 undergraduates supported hypotheses that powerholders (vs. the powerless) and men (vs. women) would perceive greater sexual intent from women's ambiguous behaviors. Additional analyses demonstrated that men felt more powerful than did women, and that high- (vs. low) power women, like men, perceived greater sexual intent. Results revealed relationships between power, gender, and sexual perceptions that can contribute to misunderstandings and sexual violence. Power might promote the perpetration of sexual violence and subsequent excuse-making by powerful lay observers. These findings have unique implications for litigating sexual assault in that powerful (vs. powerless) decision-makers (e.g., judges, jury forepersons) might differentially interpret women's ambiguous behaviors.