Alcohol Intoxication, Sexual Misperception, and Sexual Assault Perpetration: The Role of Sexual Drive–Related Alcohol Expectancies

Sexual misperception - inaccurate perception of a partner's sexual interest and intent - is a potential link through which alcohol intoxication affects perpetration of sexual assault. Alcohol intoxication induces cognitive deficits that influence in-the-moment perceptions, such as sexual misperception and decision-making. Further, expectancies about alcohol's effects on behavior may be activated by alcohol-related cues and influence sexual misperception and behavior. Cisgender men who regularly consume alcohol (<i>N</i> = 96) completed a measure of alcohol expectancies related to sexual drive and were randomized to a beverage condition [alcohol (.10%gm) vs. control]. Participants completed a sexual assault behavioral analog and reported their perceptions of a hypothetical woman's sexual interest. Participants then reported their intentions to engage in sexual assault. Among intoxicated participants, sexual drive alcohol expectancies were positively associated with sexual misperception which predicted sexual assault intentions. Sexual assault prevention programming may benefit from cognitive strategies to address alcohol and sexuality-related beliefs.