Rationalizations and defensive attributions for high-risk sex among heterosexuals

A group of 39 respondents high at risk for HIV and a group of 39 respondents low at risk for HIV were selected from a larger sample to examine their rationalizations and attributions for having unprotected sex. Respondents high at risk for HIV used more often rationalizations and attributions to justify and excuse their risky behavior. At the same time, respondents high at risk were somewhat more fearful of contracting Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and did not deny the riskiness of their behaviors compared with low-risk respondents. It is suggested that interventions should not focus on enhancing risk perceptions, but rather on challenging rationalizations and attributions that foster risky sexual behavior.