The Influence of Victim and Perpetrator Intoxication on Juror Perceptions of Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment

• Main Author: Mack, Jewel
• Format: Others
• Published: TopSCHOLAR® 2002
• Subjects: Psychology
• Online Access: http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/611; http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1614&context=theses

Once unnoticed and unreported, sexual harassment claims have risen within the last two decades. Although guidelines published by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission provide a definition of sexual harassment, researchers continue to examine variables affecting individual perceptions of sexual harassment. In addition to gender differences in perception, the present researcher examined the impact of perpetrator and victim intoxication on perceptions of sexual harassment. Results indicated that female participants were no more likely than male participants to label behaviors as sexual harassment when provided information on intoxication. However, when no information regarding the intoxication status of the perpetrator or victim was provided, females were more likely than males to perceive sexual harassment. There were no differences in perceptions of sexual harassment based on the perpetrator's intoxication status. Finally, participants were less likely to perceive sexual harassment when the victim was intoxicated than when the victim was sober.