Weisz, Monica G., and Christopher M. Earls.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence 10, no. 1 (1995): 71-84.
Abstract
This research investigated the effects of sexual violence presented in feature-length films. One hundred ninety-three university students (87 males and 106 females) were randomly assigned to view one of four films: (a) sexual aggression against a male (Deliverance); (b) sexual aggression against a female (Straw Dogs); (c) physical aggression (Die Hard 2); or (d) a neutral film containing no explicit scenes of physical or sexual aggression (Days of Thunder). After viewing the film, all subjects were asked to complete a 252-item questionnaire consisting of one of four randomly ordered presentations of the following measures: the Acceptance of Interpersonal Violence Scale, the Rape Myth Acceptance Scale, the Attraction to Sexual Aggression Scale, the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, the Mehrabian-Epstein Empathy Scale, and a movie rating questionnaire. Participants then viewed a reenactment of a rape trial and completed a 23-item rape trial questionnaire. Results showed large and consistent differences between males and females; that is, males were more accepting of interpersonal violence and rape myths, more attracted to sexual aggression, less sympathetic toward the rape trial victim, and less likely to judge the defendant as guilty of rape. Of particular interest was the finding that males were equally affected by a film depicting sexual violence regardless of victim gender. On the other hand, females were not affected by film type.
DISCUSSION
Results showed large and consistent differences between males and females. Overall, when compared to women, men were more accepting of interpersonal violence and rape myths, more attracted to sexual aggression, less sympathetic toward the rape trial victim, less likely to judge the defendant as guilty, and generally less empathic. Further, significant differences were observed based on the interaction effect of film type and gender on the Acceptance of Interpersonal Violence Scale, as well as the measures used to assess victim sympathy and verdict. Specifically, multiple comparisons revealed that males exposed to either film depicting sexual violence (against a male or a female) were significantly more accepting of interpersonal violence than females who viewed any film whatsoever. With respect to victim sympathy, males exposed to sexual violence against a male were least sympathetic when compared to females exposed to films involving sexual aggression (against a male or a female) or neutral content, and males who viewed physical violence. Males who watched sexual violence against a male or the neutral film were significantly less likely to convict the perpetrator than females who viewed either film depicting sexual aggression or the neutral content film.
One unexpected finding was that males were generally not differentially influenced by the sex of the victim in the sexually violent films. Collapsing data for both males and females over type of sexually violent film (i.e., sexual violence against a male and sexual violence against a female) revealed significant film type by gender interaction effects on acceptance of interpersonal violence, attraction to sexual aggression, victim sympathy, and verdict; males viewing a sexually aggressive film, regardless of victim gender, tend to be more accepting of interpersonal violence, more attracted to sexual aggression, and less sympathetic toward a victim of rape when compared to females exposed to the same films or males and females who viewed either physical violence or neutral films.
Most important, this study showed significant and meaningful changes in attitude after viewing commercially available feature films. Although females remain relatively unaffected by film type, males were most affected by the sexually aggressive films resulting in negative changes in certain attitudes toward and perceptions of women indicating that women deserve or secretly desire rape.
Consistent with prior research (Barnett & Field, 1977; Malamuth & Check, 1981; Malamuth, Haber, & Feshbach, 1980; Selby, Calhoun, & Brock, 1977; Tieger, 1981), the present study found male subjects to be more accepting of interpersonal violence and rape myths than females. Malamuth and Check (1981) found that exposure to films portraying violent sexuality (against women) increased male subjects’ acceptance of interpersonal violence against women. Similarly, males in the present investigation, who viewed sexual violence against either a man or a woman, obtained higher scores on scales measuring acceptance of interpersonal violence and rape myth acceptance when compared to males who viewed either the physically violent film or the neutral film. Malamuth and Check (1981) also reported that viewing sexually aggressive films significantly increased men’s but not women’s acceptance of cultural stereotypes indicating that women deserve or secretly desire rape. The present investigation replicated these results.
It is also interesting that in the present experiment females did not seem to be affected by film type. For the moment, it is not clear why females manage to escape the influence of the information contained in either violent or sexually violent films. By including the depiction of a male rape in the present study, we attempted to control possible “attitude polarization” or “reactance phenomenon” effects. However, because of the use of commercially available feature films, it was impossible to manipulate the extent to which male subjects identified with the male victim. Rather, the most likely explanation of the present data is the “just world” theory.
Linz et al. (1989) have reasoned that exposure to many scenes from “slasher” type of films that nearly always portray female victims willingly placing themselves in situations that inevitably lead to injury or death may cause viewers to blame the victim for her own assault (ascribing to the belief in a “just world,” the idea that ultimately we all get what we deserve; Lerner, 1965, 1971). Zillmann and Bryant (1982, 1984) also have suggested that prolonged exposure to images of women depicted as sexually promiscuous results in the trivialization of rape and other forms of sexual violence. With respect to the results of the present research, the above-mentioned theory may partially explain the effects of exposure to sexual violence for males. Another possible explanation of these results is the concept of availability. After being exposed to the information presented in the films depicting sexual aggression, these effects are what become more readily available cognitively. Exposure to these stimuli may have encouraged male subjects, who perhaps already upheld specific thought patterns that supported or reinforced sexual violence in others. Finally, male subjects viewing other males being sexually aggressive toward a female may simply become disinhibited against subsequent aggression toward women via desensitization or modeling effects.
Obviously, the present research presents some limitations, most of which are endemic to all laboratory studies of this nature. First, the participants in this study were all university students. Second, subjects were asked to fill out questionnaires and to act as “mock jurors” after watching a reenactment of a rape trim immediately following exposure to the various films. Third, the films used in this study contained particular types of violence; it is important to examine who the violence is directed at and how the victims are depicted.
Future research should examine the possible interacting effects of predisposing personality characteristics, family history, consumption of pornography, sexual experiences, and quantity of exposure to televised and filmed violence and/or sexual violence. In addition, it would be interesting to vary both the number and type of films, as well as the time interval between movie viewing and the dependent measure tasks. The use of a more objective measure, such as the Buss-Durkee Hostility Paradigm, as well as measuring physiological arousal during exposure to sexually violent films, also would be beneficial.
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