Interactive Effects of Anger and Alcohol Intoxication on Men's Laboratory-Based Sexual Aggression Propensity...

The I³ Model posits that men are more likely to engage in sexual aggression when instigation (e.g., their masculinity is threatened) and impellance are high (e.g., high trait anger) and inhibition is low (e.g., alcohol intoxication). This study investigates the independent and interactive effects of trait anger and acute intoxication on men's sexual aggression propensity after exposure to a masculinity threat.

Cisgender, heterosexual men (n = 120, ages 21-30) completed a self-report measure of trait anger, were randomly assigned to consume an alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverage, and engaged in the Sexual Imposition Paradigm (SIP), which assessed laboratory-based sexual aggression propensity toward a female confederate. Before the SIP, all men's masculinity was threatened via feedback from a personality test, which indicated that they were less masculine than other men.

The interaction between trait anger and beverage condition was significant. When men were intoxicated, sexual aggression propensity increased among men with higher trait anger, whereas for sober men, their sexual aggression propensity decreased with higher trait anger.

Consistent with the I³ Model, individual differences in trait anger may be an important risk factor for men's sexual aggression under the influence of alcohol. These findings have implications for intervention programming. Anger often arises as a response to feeling vulnerable, such as when men's masculinity is threatened. Thus, the integration of established, evidenced-based approaches to reduce feelings of anger into prevention programs for sexual aggression, particularly among men who have consumed alcohol, may be valuable.