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Competitive disadvantage makes attitudes towards rape less negative.

Kevin L Nunes¹, Cathrine Pettersen

¹Department of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. kevin_nunes@carleton.ca

Evolutionary Psychology : an International Journal of Evolutionary Approaches to Psychology and Behavior

|September 6, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Feeling competitively disadvantaged may increase positive attitudes toward rape among men. This study experimentally manipulated competitive status, finding that perceived disadvantage, not advantage, correlated with less negative rape perceptions.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Evolutionary Psychology
Criminology

Background:

Evolutionary theories suggest competitive disadvantage may promote antisocial behavior.
Previous research has not experimentally tested the link between competitive disadvantage and rape perceptions.

Purpose of the Study:

To experimentally investigate how perceived competitive disadvantage influences men's attitudes toward rape.
To examine if manipulated competitive status affects beliefs about rape.

Main Methods:

120 heterosexual undergraduate men were randomly assigned to either a competitive advantage or disadvantage condition.
Participants' self-perceived financial, physical, and intellectual status relative to peers was manipulated.
Attitudes toward rape, justifications, and excuses were assessed.

Main Results:

The manipulation successfully induced feelings of competitive disadvantage.
Perceived competitive disadvantage led to less negative attitudes toward rape compared to perceived advantage.
Competitive status did not significantly influence rape justifications or excuses.

Conclusions:

Perceived competitive disadvantage may be a factor in shaping attitudes toward rape in men.
Experimental manipulation provides a controlled method to study this relationship.
Further research is needed to refine understanding of competitive disadvantage and rape.