Development of Promiscuous and Impersonal Sex and its Consequences on Sexual Assault Author:Jiun-Yih Huang, Yaw-Sheng Lin, Ka-Fong Lei
Research Article
The prevalence of male sexual assault on women is alarmingly high worldwide (Axinn et al., 2018; Carey et al., 2015; Kamdar et al., 2017; Koss et al., 1987; Walsh et al., 2014). Researchers have critically and widely discussed the social issue (Kuo et al., 2018) concerning the adverse effects of sexual assault on the psychological, physiological, and sexual well-being of victims (Dworkin et al., 2017; Rothman et al., 2019).Samples of convicted sex offenders and nonoffenders (Davis et al., 2018; Widman et al., 2013) have confirmed that promiscuous and impersonal sex is a major predictor of male sexual assault (Abbey et al., 2011; Casey et al., 2017; Malamuth, et al., 1995; Widman et al., 2013). Considering that sexual assault is a pertinent social issue, the causal factors of promiscuous and impersonal sex should be essentially explored. However, only a few studies have focused on promiscuous and impersonal sex in Taiwan. Particularly, studies focusing on the effect of promiscuous and impersonal sex on sexual assault have been inadequate. Male sexual assault on women constitutes more than 90% of all sexual assault cases in Taiwan (National Police Agency, Ministry of the Interior, 2017). This study bridges a critical research gap concerning male sexual assault in Taiwan and contributes to the international literature on this topic.This study particularly focuses on two aspects. Early sexual experiences pertain to one’s surroundings and life experiences (Dishion et al., 2012). Sensation seeking (a personality trait) pertains to biological factors from the perspective of trait theory and biological theory (Barenbaum & Winter, 2008; McCrae & Costa, 2008). These two aspects can help understand mechanisms underlying the development of promiscuous and impersonal sex.Accordingly, this study establishes a model to explain the development of promiscuous and impersonal sex and its effect on sexual assault. The following assumptions are made: (a) Early sexual experiences relate to sensation seeking, and both aspects predict promiscuous and impersonal sex. (b) Early sexual experiences, sensation seeking, and promiscuous and impersonal sex can predict sexual assault behavior and frequency. (c) Early sexual experiences and domestic violence relate to each other and can predict promiscuous and impersonal sex. However, the effect of domestic violence as a predictor of promiscuous and impersonal sex is often overlooked due to the high correspondence between early sexual experiences and promiscuous and impersonal sex. This study has verified the preceding assumptions.An anonymous self-report online questionnaire was used for data collection. The surveyed population comprised 998 men aged >20 years. The participants were aged between 20 and 55 years, with the average age and standard deviation being 23.01 and 4.38 years, respectively. Furthermore, 1.00%, 3.50%, 84.20%, and 11.30% of the participants had elementary school and junior high school, high school (vocational), university (college), and postgraduate education, respectively. With regard to caregivers, 87.10%, 2.30%, 6.10%, 3.30%, 0.40%, and 0.90% of the participants were raised by their parents, fathers, mothers, grandparents, relatives, and without family support, respectively. Participants were recruited through websites, and research questionnaires were administered through online platforms. Participants provided consent, and this study was approved by a research ethics review committee (REC number: 10503ES009).Variables were measured using self-developed tools or established scales with reliability and validity. The measurement tools were verified as having acceptable reliability and validity.This study used structural equation modeling to examine the effects of early sexual experiences, family violence, and sensation seeking on promiscuous and impersonal sex. In addition, binary logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the effects of early sexual experiences, sensation seeking, and promiscuous and impersonal sex on sexual assault. A structural equation model was used to examine the effects of early sexual experiences, sensation seeking, and promiscuous and impersonal sex on the sexual assault frequency. The results revealed that early sexual experiences were associated with sensation seeking. Furthermore, both the aspects predicted 16% of the variance of promiscuous and impersonal sex. Under the influence of early sexual experiences, the effect of family violence on promiscuous and impersonal sex became nonsignificant. In addition, the results indicated the following: (1) Early sexual experiences, sensation seeking, and promiscuous and impersonal sex significantly predicted sexual assault. (2) Early sexual experiences and promiscuous and impersonal sex had significant predictive effects on the sexual assault frequency. (3) Sensation seeking no longer had significant predictive power under the overlapping influence of the aforementioned variables.The study findings confirm the results of previous studies concerning the effect of early sexual experiences on sexual assault. The family environment plays a major role in sexual assault. This finding is consistent with Marshall and Barbaree’s (1990) assertion that sexual assault behaviors originate from abusive families. In addition, this study confirmed the effect of promiscuous and impersonal sex on sexual assault, consistent with the findings in the literature (Davis et al., 2018; Mann et al., 2010; Widman et al., 2013). Malamuth et al. (1995) asserted that early risk factors affect promiscuous and impersonal sex through the mediation of adolescent delinquency. However, this study demonstrated the direct relationship between early sexual experiences and promiscuous and impersonal sex. The study confirmed the effect of early sexual experiences, sensation seeking, and promiscuous and impersonal sex on the sexual assault frequency, which has been rarely discussed in previous studies. Additionally, this study clarified the role of early sexual experiences and family violence in promiscuous and impersonal sex.Early sexual experiences influence promiscuous and impersonal sex as well as predict the sexual assault behavior and frequency. As observed, early sexual experiences have more explanatory power than sensation seeking, thereby contributing to the development of sexual assault tendencies (Huang, 2000; Groth & Birnbaum, 1979; Seto & Lalumiere, 2010). Accordingly, early intervention in high-risk families (social workers, psychologists, probation officers, prosecutors, teachers, or researchers) and cooperation of professionals (Tien et al., 2017) can effectively prevent sexual assault behaviors.Factors such as adolescent delinquency, psychopathy, severe drinking, and false perception of women’s sexual intention (Abbey et al., 2011; Dishion et al., 2012; Malamuth et al., 1995) can be incorporated into the model of promiscuous and impersonal sex in future studies. This is because early sexual experiences and sensation seeking explain only 16% of the variance of promiscuous and impersonal sex. The confluence model proposed by Malamuth et al. (1995) indicates that early risk factors influence promiscuous and impersonal sex through adolescent delinquency. Subsequent studies can address this association and compare it with the results of this study (i.e., early sexual experiences directly predicts promiscuous and impersonal sex). In addition, sex offenders who are arrested and those who escape arrest demonstrate differences in terms of life adjustment, self-esteem, and causes of sexual assault (Smithyman, 1978). Accordingly, future research should focus on incarcerated sex offenders to explore and verify the hypotheses presented herein.
Development of Promiscuous and Impersonal Sex and its Consequences on Sexual Assault
下載
