Predicting responses to sexually aggressive stories: the role of consent, interest in sexual aggression, and overall sexual interest.

Explanatory models of sexual aggression have been proposed from a variety of different disciplines within the social sciences and from diverse theoretical perspectives within psychology (Hudson & Ward, 1997); however, a view discussed by many theorists is that sexual aggression is better understood as an act of violence and aggression rather than a sexual act (Brownmiller, 1975; Malamuth, Heavey, & Linz, 1993; Palmer, 1988). Although initially important, both scientifically and politically, the emphasis on aggression and violence has led many researchers to neglect the sexual…