Perceptions of sexual compliance‐resisting messages in three types of cross‐sex relationships

This study examined sexual rejection messages from the perspective of the message recipient. Respondents were presented with a hypothetical scenario manipulating relationship type (friendship, dating, and ambiguous) and directness of rejection message. The least direct rejection involved no explicit comment on the sexual overture but a request to change the television channel. Moderate directness involved messages containing an account based on the stage of relationship ("This just would not be good for our relationship") or personal preference ("I just don't think I'm ready for this right now"). High directness involved rejection based on a lack of sexual attraction ("I just don't feel sexually attracted to you"). Results indicated that sexual rejection messages that were moderate in directness were perceived to be more face preserving and comfortable than either very direct or very indirect messages. “Not Sexually Attracted”; was seen as the most constraining, face threatening, and uncomfortable of all messages across relationship types. Sexual rejection was less predictable (more surprising) in dating relationships and thus relatively more face threatening and uncomfortable than in friendships and ambiguous relationships. Females perceived sexual rejection as more constraining, less predictable, and more uncomfortable compared to males.