University students’ perspectives on physiological sexual arousal in victims of sexual assault: The role of gender and rape myths

Are university students aware that physiological sexual arousal (i.e., erection, lubrication, orgasm) may occur in victims during a sexual assault? In this study, we examined this question and the role of the gender of the participant, the gender of the victim, and the gender of the perpetrator on perceptions of physiological sexual arousal in sexual assault victims. They also examined the link between endorsement of rape myths and these perceptions. A sample of 477 female and 230 male students was recruited and invited to complete an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included an adapted version of the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance–Short Form (IRMA-SF) scale, along with questions about perceptions of sexual arousal in various scenarios of sexual assault. In general, students agreed that physiological sexual arousal could occur in some victims. Particularly, students overall judged sexual arousal to be most likely when both the perpetrator and the victim are men. For erection in male victims specifically, male students believed it to be more plausible when the perpetrator is a woman. Female students thought that lubrication is more likely to occur than male students did, regardless of the gender of the perpetrator. Endorsement of rape myths was negatively associated with the belief that it is possible for a victim to experience sexual arousal during a sexual assault. Almost all participants asserted that there is not enough awareness of this phenomenon, which highlights the potential implications of this study for educational initiatives.