Alcohol, Misperception, and Sexual Assault: How and Why Are They Linked?

Abstract

Abstract In our studies of sexual assault, both perpetrators and victims have described alcohol’s role in what occurred. One man justified forcing sex on his date by saying, “I was very drunk and upset by the fact that it was our prom night and she spent most of it helping someone throw up while I sat by myself.” Another man thought the assault occurred “because I was a little drunk and so was she. She wanted only to kiss and I misinterpreted this.” One young woman told of how she “wasn’t able to respond soon enough to his advances. Maybe I wasn’t aware of his serious intentions soon enough because of my drinking.” Another woman wrote, “I was very drunk and could not drive or get away from him even though we were in my car. He took me to a motel and carried me inside.” One man felt that the assault was due to his date’s drinking: “She asked for it [by being drunk] and she got it.” A woman explained her assault by writing, “because I allowed myself to drink beyond what I could handle and I trusted the man too much.”

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