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Dawson, Kayleigh 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9372-8054
(2023).
"Lad culture" in the group chat: Does involvement in a lad group chat influence attitudes towards sexual assault and women?
University of Birmingham.
Foren.Psy.D.
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Dawson2023ForenPsyD_Redacted.pdf
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Abstract
The prevalence of sexual assault has gained attention within the media over recent years, with this seemingly becoming normalised within society. All-male peer groups are proposed to be one social context in which men may receive support and encouragement from peers to perpetrate sexual aggression. In addition, environments such as fraternities, sports societies, and university ‘lad culture’ appear to consist of a rape-supportive culture. However, little is known regarding social contexts outside of university, for example in virtual spaces such as group chats. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to examine the relationship between peer group influence in lad group chats and attitudes towards sexual assault and women.
A systematic review of the literature published between 1990 and 2022 was conducted to explore the relationship between peer group influence and sexual assault. Data was synthesised qualitatively and findings of the literature review will be presented.
Methods of measuring attitudes towards sexual assault were then explored to ensure the most appropriate measure was used during the current research. The psychometric properties of the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale were examined and a critique of the measure has been presented to justify the use of a new, less validated and less well-known measure, the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale – Subtle version; this was deemed to be more appropriate to use for the present study based on the critique of its earlier counterpart.
A gap in the existing literature was identified based on the thesis chapters thus far. The primary researcher was interested in advancing knowledge of potential social factors related to sexual assault, specifically online group chats. Study 1 involved development of a questionnaire to assess extent of lad group chat involvement (male-only group chats) using Q-methodology. A cross-sectional design was then used in Study 2 to explore associations between involvement in lad group chats, attitudes towards sexual assault, women and self-reported sexual assault perpetration. Results found that males in a lad group chat held greater acceptance of sexual assault than males who were not involved in a lad group chat and females. Males in a lad group chat also held more hostility and ambivalence towards women than males who were not in a lad group chat. Correlational analyses showed a significant positive relationship between acceptance of sexual assault, ambivalent attitudes towards women and sexual assault perpetration. The limitations and implications of the research have been discussed.
| Type of Work: | Thesis (Doctorates > Foren.Psy.D.) | |||||||||
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| Award Type: | Doctorates > Foren.Psy.D. | |||||||||
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| Licence: | All rights reserved | |||||||||
| College/Faculty: | Colleges (2008 onwards) > College of Life & Environmental Sciences | |||||||||
| School or Department: | School of Psychology, Centre for Forensic and Criminological Psychology | |||||||||
| Funders: | None/not applicable | |||||||||
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) |
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| URI: | http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/13483 |
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