Ngăn Ngừa Tấn Công Tình Dục: Nghiên Cứu Về Quản Lý Thông Tin Động Lực

Tài liệu nghiên cứu Osጷ788798, tổng hợp lý thuyết và thực hành, cung cấp kiến thức chuyên sâu về ., phục vụ nghiên cứu và ứng dụng thực tiễn

Trường đại học

The Ohio State University

Chuyên ngành

Communication

Người đăng

Ẩn danh

Thể loại

Thesis

2012

55
0
0

Phí lưu trữ

30 Point

Mục lục chi tiết

1. CHƯƠNG 1: INTRODUCTION

2. CHƯƠNG 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Trích đoạn nội dung tài liệu

Preventing Sexual Assault: Applying the Theory of Motivated Information Management THESIS Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Bridget Louise Potocki Graduate Program in Communication The Ohio State University 2012 Thesis Committee: Jesse A. Fox, Advisor Janice Raup-Krieger Copyrighted by Bridget Louise Potocki 2012 Abstract A substantial amount of the research concerning the prevention of sexual assault has focused on the effectiveness of media campaigns. Conversely, though empirical evidence is limited, interpersonal discussion has the potential to be an effective strategy for preventing sexual assault. To explore the factors that may facilitate the discussion of sexual assault, the theory of motivated information management was used (W. Additionally, perceived threat was considered to improve the use of the theory in health-related contexts. Analyses were based on 248 undergraduate participants. Results were mixed in regards to the applicability of the theory to the context of sexual assault; however, there are key findings for the improvement of public health campaigns. ii Vita May 2005 .Century High School 2010. Minnesota State University Moorhead 2010 to present .Graduate Teaching Associate, School of Communication, The Ohio State University Publications Kam, J. Encouraging Mexican-heritage youth to intervene when friends drink: The role of targeted parent-child communication about alcohol. Fields of Study Major Field: Communication iii Table of Contents Abstract . iii List of Tables . v List of Figures . vi Chapter 1: Introduction . 1 Chapter 2: Literature Review . 42 iv List of Tables Table 1. 21 v List of Figures Figure 1. Predictions from the Theory of Motivated Information Management . TMIM Empircal Model . TMIM empirical model with threat predicting anxiety . Error! Bookmark not defined. TMIM empirical model with anxiety predicting threat . Error! Bookmark not defined.1 vi Chapter 1: Introduction Although many scholars note the lack of consensus in defining rape or sexual assault (Alexander, Larosa, & Alexander, 2009), the deleterious effects of victimization are well- documented (Campbell, Dworkin, & Cabral, 2009; French, 2003; Holcomb, Holcomb, & Driscoll, 2011). According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, nearly a quarter of a million sexual assaults against women were reported in 2008 in the United States and one in five women attending college will be victims of sexual assault (Department of Justice, 2005). Further complicating the issue of sexual assault is the lack of dialogue concerning the topic. This lack of conversation can lead to the perpetuation of rape myths, which Burt (1980) defined as “prejudicial, stereotyped or false beliefs about rape, rape victims, and rapists” (p. At the very least, limited dialogue contributes to men and women alike holding conflicting understandings of what behaviors constitute sexual assault, which can impact a victim’s willingness to report an assault. A Department of Justice report (2010) confirms these concerns, indicating that underreporting maybe linked to the victim’s inability to recognize the assault as a criminal act. In turn, more research is needed to better understand how individuals decide to manage information about sexual assault. To better understand how individuals choose to use interpersonal discussion as an information management strategy, the theory of motivated information management (TMIM) will be used. TMIM uses both efficacy and outcome assessments, which refer to an individual’s ability to engage in conversation as well as the evaluation of a particular information 1 management strategy to predict whether an individual seeks, avoids, or cognitively reappraises information (W. TMIM is a particularly useful theory for this topic, as TMIM seeks to understand how interpersonal discussion is chosen as a management strategy. Much of the literature focused on the prevention of sexual assault centers on mass media campaigns; however, examining the interpersonal discussion of sexual assault could offer new insights into understanding sexual assault while improving campaign effectiveness. To a degree, interpersonal discussion makes evading the topic of sexual assault more difficult, a key strength when compared to media campaigns. As Chaffee (1982) notes, though, interpersonal discussion is not inherently more persuasive than other information channels, the taboo nature of sexual assault may limit the effectiveness of mass media campaigns in combating such an issue. In turn, a greater understanding of the potential impact of interpersonal discussion on the prevention of sexual assault is needed. Primarily, this study seeks to assess the predictive power of the TMIM and to better understand how individuals may decide to engage in interpersonal discussion as an information management strategy in the context of sexual assault. This study will also examine the effectiveness of including perceived threat (Witte, 1992) within the TMIM framework. The inclusion of perceived threat may then improve the application of the TMIM to health contexts and improve the predictive power of the theory. Ultimately, examining interpersonal discussion concerning sexual assault and incorporating perceived threat may better inform education efforts as well as campaign messages. 2 Chapter 2: Literature Review Background and Need For the present study, sexual assault is any unwanted sexual contact or any sexual act committed without consent and can include unwanted or inappropriate touching as well as rape. Every two minutes someone is sexually assaulted in the United States (RAINN, 2007). Victims of sexual assault are three times more likely to develop depression and six times more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; WHO, 2002), with nearly one-third of victims developing PTSD during their lifetime (Clum, Calhoun, & Kimerling, 2000). Victims are also three to four times more likely to attempt suicide, particularly if the assault occurred before the age of sixteen (Davidson, Hughes, George, & Blazer, 1996), and more likely to abuse alcohol and illicit drugs as a means of coping (RAINN, 2007; WHO, 2002). Sexual assault continues to be an important health concern and health communication researchers could offer greater insight into improving the effectiveness of persuasive messages and campaigns to potentially reduce the occurrence of sexual assault. To best combat this health concern, scholars need to shift their focus from the prevalence of sexual assault to its prevention (Bachar & Koss, 2001). Mass media messages have often focused on women taking preventative behaviors against sexual assault, such as enrolling in self- defense classes (Söchting et al. Potter, Moynihan, Stapleton, and Banyard (2009), though, note that such approaches place greater emphasis on stranger rape rather than acquaintance or date rape. Moreover, with the exception of long-term education programs, many 3 campaigns have produced little change in the frequency of sexual assault and have not positively altered perceptions of sexual assault victims (Lonsway et al. As Campbell and Wasco (2005) note, though, it is not yet clear what type of materials or other campaign characteristics lead to consistent and maintainable attitude and behavioral changes. Importance of Discussing Sexual Assault Communication research has often focused on the importance of talk when examining topics related to sexual health such as negotiating condom use and discussing sexual history and concerns about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with partners (Afifi et al., 2006; Edgar & Fitzpatrick, 1993; Moyer-Guse, Mahood, & Brookes, 2011; Powell & Segrin, 2004; Troth & Peterson, 2000). Unfortunately, there is limited research concerning conversations or talk about sexual assault, but existing empirical evidence suggests that interpersonal discussion can be an effective means of educating men and women about sexual assault, particularly when combined with mass media messages. Morrison (2005) examined the effects of indirect fear appeals in persuading men to discuss enrolling in self-defense classes with women. After exposure, 22% of men expressed intent to discuss sexual assault and self-defense classes with women. Although the conclusions that can be drawn from one study are limited, Morrison (2005) illustrated that the effectiveness of a mass media campaign can be augmented by encouraging discussion; however, the study did not explore what motivated participants to have conversations about sexual assault. Because Morrison (2005) focused on the occurrence of conversation rather than the factors which could facilitate interpersonal discussion, a closer examination of interpersonal discussion as an information management strategy is needed. Burnett et al.’s (2009) study, which used focus groups to examine date rape on college campuses, offers some insight into why examining conversations about sexual assault is difficult. Notably, the participants indicated that 4 there was not clear a definition or meaning for date rape, noting an inherent ambiguity about sexual assault that makes the topic difficult to identify and discuss prior to and after an assault. In turn, in the absence of conversation and clear definitions, participants indicated a reliance on rape myths to help manage the ambiguity. As noted earlier, rape myths refer to a set of attitudes and beliefs which serve to justify or condone a sexual assault by denying the occurrence of an assault or by blaming the victim (i., presuming the victim was responsible for soliciting the attack; Burt, 1980; Lonsway & Fitzgerald, 1994). Bieneck and Krahe (2011) compared perceptions in the attribution of guilt for robbery and rape, finding that more blame was ascribed to the victim for rape and the perceived level of guilt increased in instances where the victim knew the attacker. Girard and Senn (2008) found that after reading vignettes featuring a woman’s voluntary drug use prior to a sexual assault, participants indicated a reduction in perceptions of perpetrator responsibility and increased blaming of the victim. Although such research does not explicitly deal with conversations about sexual assault, rape myth acceptance underscores the importance of studying conversations about sexual assault because without discussion to challenge the myths, these beliefs are normalized. It is thus imperative to study conversations about sexual assaults as well as why individuals are motivated to engage in such discussions. Though willingness to converse about sexual assault remains relatively unexplored, empirical work has indicated that engaging in conversation about sexual assault can be beneficial for victims. Botta and Pingree (1997) examined how interpersonal communication impacted women’s ability to acknowledge that they had been raped or assaulted. Researchers found that knowing someone who had been assaulted and seeking information about acquaintance rape from friends significantly predicted acknowledgement of rape. Acknowledgement of an assault 5 has then been found to have positive psychological effects for survivors (Botta & Pingree, 1997; Clements & Olge, 2009). In turn, to better understand such conversations, it is necessary to begin exploring the conditions which facilitate the occurrence of these discussions. The TMIM then offers a useful theoretical means to begin exploring these pre-conversation attributes. Theory of Motivated Information Management The theory of motivated information management (TMIM) was offered by W. Afifi and Weiner (2004) and delineates how information seeking is shaped by and through interpersonal interactions. TMIM builds on previous theories of efficacy (Bandura, 1997), uncertainty management (Berger, 1979; Berger & Calabrese, 1975; Brashers, 2001), and models of information seeking (Johnson & Meischke, 1993). In understanding uncertainty, TMIM has key strengths including an emphasis on the importance of dyadic or interpersonal channels of information. Additionally, TMIM further explicates the decision making process by including multiple efficacy components, which concentrate on an individual’s perceptions concerning the effectiveness of a particular information management strategy as well as perceptions concerning his or her ability to use a specific information strategy. Finally, TMIM acknowledges the role and characteristics of the provider of information in the interaction (W. Afifi, Dillow, & Morse, 2004; W. The import of interpersonal interactions within the TMIM framework makes the theory particularly applicable to the topic of sexual assault as interpersonal discussion may lead to greater behavior change (Morrison, 2005) than just exposure to a media campaign. Active information seeking passes through three sequential phases within the TMIM: interpretation, evaluation, and decision. The interpretation phase involves the individual becoming aware of an undesired amount of uncertainty which subsequently generates anxiety. 6 Awareness of the undesired level of uncertainty then leads to the evaluation phase. The evaluation phase features the individual forming perceptions about the effectiveness of a particular strategy for managing information as well as assessing his or her ability to effectively communicate the information. Taken together, these perceptions lead to the final phase: decision.

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