Resistance, persistence, and drinking: Examining goals of women's refusals of unwanted sexual advances

Abstract

The expressed goals of women's refusals to unwanted requests for increased intimacy were examined. It was hypothesized that alcohol consumption would influence expressed goals such that intoxicated women would be less likely to express concern for secondary goals (protection of self image, requester image, and relationship) than would sober women. The influence of request type and request persistence was also examined. Although alcohol consumption did not significantly influence the degree to which women expressed the primary (refusing clearly) and secondary goals, request type and request persistence had significant effects. Results are discussed in relation to Alcohol Myopia Theory and the sexual/relational refusal literature.