KUKU

KU ScholarWorks

  • myKU
  • Email
  • Enroll & Pay
  • KU Directory
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Compromise or Coercion: Conceptualizing Experiences of Conceding to Unwanted Sexual Activity

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Mustapha_ku_0099D_15449_DATA_1.pdf (678.2Kb)
    Issue Date
    2017-08-31
    Author
    Mustapha, Adijat
    Publisher
    University of Kansas
    Format
    132 pages
    Type
    Dissertation
    Degree Level
    Ph.D.
    Discipline
    Psychology
    Rights
    Copyright held by the author.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Sometimes individuals are talked into sexual behavior that—at least initially—they did not want. Sometimes, these situations are conceptualized as compromise; sometimes, they are conceptualized as verbal sexual coercion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of such experiences among young adults and to identify factors that differ between situations experienced as generally positive or generally negative. Participants—150 female, 122 male, and 2 gender-variant undergraduates—completed an online questionnaire about conceding to unwanted sexual activity (CUSA), operationally defined as “a situation in which you initially did not want to engage in a sexual activity, but someone talked you into it.” They answered questions about two such experiences: one about which they felt generally positive and one about which they felt generally negative. Using quantitative and qualitative data, we compared relationship and situational characteristics that differentiated between their positive and negative CUSA experiences. Results showed that 42% of women, 34% of men, and neither gender-variant respondent reported positive experiences; 33% of women, 16% of men, and both gender-variant respondents reported negative experiences. Some respondents reported mixed feelings, reporting some negative feelings about generally positive situations and vice versa. There were several significant differences between respondents’ positive and negative experiences. Women’s negative situations were more likely than their positive situations to have involved someone they had been “talking” to or casually dating, possibly because of relationship expectations or how much the other person had tried to please them. Positive and negative situations were similar in whether they had involved positively-framed verbal approaches (e.g., saying it would be fun or good for the relationship). Negative situations were more likely than positive situations to have involved negatively-framed verbal approaches (e.g., attempts to make respondents feel guilty or inadequate; asking repeatedly so that it was easier just to give in). This study highlights that conceding to initially unwanted sexual activity could be experienced as positive, negative, or both. Conceding in order to avoid unpleasantness was especially likely to be experienced as negative. These results have implications for clinical practice, research, and sexual coercion prevention efforts, especially among college-age populations.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/26020
    Collections
    • Psychology Dissertations and Theses [466]
    • Dissertations [4473]

    Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.


    We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.


    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    Browse

    All of KU ScholarWorksCommunities & CollectionsThis Collection

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    The University of Kansas
      Contact KU ScholarWorks
    Lawrence, KS | Maps
     
    • Academics
    • Admission
    • Alumni
    • Athletics
    • Campuses
    • Giving
    • Jobs

    The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.

     Contact KU
    Lawrence, KS | Maps