The enjoyment of sexist humor, rape attitudes, and relationship aggression in college students. The current study extends prior research showing attitudes are an important predictor of sexual aggression in men. It also builds on theory and research on motives underlying sexist and hostile humor. It does so by exploring the relationship between the enjoyment of sexist humor and rape-supportive attitudes, sexually coercive behavior, and courtship violence in college men and women.
Attitudes are an important predictor of sexual aggression in men.
Nevertheless, it appears that there may be a danger in young men holding such attitudes and beliefs. An unobtrusive measure of rape-supportive and sexist attitudes may be found in young men's enjoyment of sexist humor. In contrast, tendentious humor has a particular aim, usually sexual or hostile. Sexual jokes may be used to test the waters with potential sex partners. They may be used to express repressed desires.