The development of a sexual harassment proclivity scale: Construct validation and relationship to communication competence

This study focuses on developing, validating, and applying a self‐report measure of the proclivity to engage in sexually harassing behavior. The validity of the scale is demonstrated by its moderate correlations with attitude measures relevant to sexual harassment, its nonsignificant correlation with the need to provide socially desirable responses, and by showing that potential victims of sexual harassment view the included behaviors as harassing. Further, it was shown that college males indicating a higher proclivity to engage in sexual harassment were more suspicious of and apprehensive about dating, less satisfied with their dating activities, more anxious about communication, and found communication less rewarding.

Key concepts:

• Sexual harassment proclivity
• tolerance for sexual harassment
• unwillingness to communicate
• dating competence