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Sexual Coercion in Intimate Relationships: A Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Women’s Infidelity and Men’s Dominance and Control

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Abstract

Researchers studying the proximate (or immediate) causes of sexual coercion have proposed that partner rape is motivated by a man’s attempt to dominate and control his partner and that this expression of power is the product of men’s social roles. Researchers studying the ultimate (or evolutionary) causes, in contrast, have proposed that partner rape may function as an anti-cuckoldry tactic, with its occurrence related to a man’s suspicions of his partner’s sexual infidelity. In two studies, we collected data relevant to both perspectives to explore how these variables interact with men’s sexual coercion in an intimate relationship. Regression analyses from Study 1 (self-reports from 256 men) and Study 2 (partner-reports from 290 women) indicated that men’s sexual coercion of their partners was consistently predicted by female infidelity and men’s controlling behavior, suggesting that both variables are necessary to explain men’s sexual coercion. Discussion addressed limitations of the current research and highlighted the importance of integrating multiple levels of analysis when studying men’s sexual coercion of their intimate partners.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Editor and three anonymous reviewers for comments that greatly improved this article and we thank the Editor for suggesting the title.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, California State University, Fullerton, P.O. Box 6848, Fullerton, CA, 92831, USA

    Aaron T. Goetz

  2. Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Davie, FL, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

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  1. Aaron T. Goetz
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  2. Todd K. Shackelford
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Correspondence to Aaron T. Goetz.

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Goetz, A.T., Shackelford, T.K. Sexual Coercion in Intimate Relationships: A Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Women’s Infidelity and Men’s Dominance and Control. Arch Sex Behav 38, 226–234 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-008-9353-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-008-9353-x

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