Selective Information Processing of Nonverbal Sexual Refusal Cues by Undergraduate Males

• In Event: Sex Communication and Health

Abstract

Date rape, or acquaintance rape, is becoming increasingly prevalent on college campuses. Because date rape usually involves some form of communication prior to the rape, it is crucial to examine how this communication contributes to the action of rape. Most communication research conceptualizes rape as a result of a miscommunication of consent; assuming that females are not sufficiently communicating that they do not want to have sex. The current study challenges this assumption. By applying selective information processing theory to undergraduate males’ understanding of nonverbal sexual refusal cues, we seek to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how communicative factors contribute to date rape. We present the results of two studies. Study 1 is an experiment testing whether selective information processing is occurring. Study 2 consists of five online focus groups conducted with 24 undergraduate males. Together, findings from these studies indicate that information load plays a role in undergraduate males’ understanding of sexual refusal. However, undergraduate males have difficulty identifying nonverbal sexual refusal and processing that refusal when information load is high. The methods and results of this research offer innovative directions for research to challenge current beliefs, as well as critique and change the current definitions, interactions, and understandings of rape.

Authors

• Beth J. Bollinger, University of Washington

• Meghan Bridgid Moran, San Diego State U

• Patricia Geist-Martin, San Diego State U