Aggressive erotica and violence against women.

Examined the effects of aggressive-erotic stimuli on male aggression toward females when 120 male undergraduates were angered or treated in a neutral manner by a male or female confederate. Ss were then shown either a neutral, erotic, or aggressive-erotic film and given an opportunity to aggress against the male or female via the delivery of electric shock. Results indicate that the aggressive-erotic film was effective in increasing aggression overall and that it produced the highest increase in aggression against the female. Even nonangered Ss showed an increase in aggression toward the female after viewing the aggressive-erotic film. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The public as an ethical consultant: A reply to Apple and to Sieber.

Responds to criticisms by W. Apple (1977) and by J. E. Sieber (1977) concerning D. W. Wilson and E. Donnerstein's (see record 1977-28625-001) article on using public opinion to ascertain the ethicality of psychological experiments. The public should be consulted, in addition to other consultants, in cases of nonreactive research when Ss cannot give informed consent. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Transcatheter closure of residual atrial septal defect following implantation of buttoned device

We report a case in which residual shunting after a buttoned device occlusion of atrial septal defect (ASD) was eliminated by transcatheter retrieval of a portion of the device, followed by implantation of a second device. This method may be helpful for those patients with residual ASDs who decline surgical device retrieval and defect closure.     

Legal and ethical aspects of nonreactive social psychological research: An excursion into the public mind.

Assessed reactions of 174 randomly selected Ss (median age 27.83 yrs) to 8 nonreactive methods used in social psychological research by I. Silverman (see record 1975-28673-001). In general, while in many cases the majority of Ss did not react negatively to the methods, substantial minorities in most cases and the majority in some cases did object. Possible interpretations of these data are discussed. It is suggested that future investigators consider the public's attitudes toward a particular nonreactive method in determining its use or nonuse. Issues raised by such a procedure are discussed, and a call is made for more critical thinking on ethical issues as well as for more data that can help to resolve ethical concerns. (38 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Health information-seeking and perceptions of website credibility: Examining Web-use orientation,message characteristics,and structural features of websites

The study reported here examined perceptions of health website credibility during the process of acquiring health information using the World Wide Web. The relationships between perceptions of website credibility and both message characteristics (e.g., statistics, testimonials) and structural features of health websites (e.g., privacy policy statement, third-party endorsements) were assessed. Additionally, one’s Web-use orientation (i.e., searching or surfing) was evaluated as a moderator of the preceding relationships. The results showed a positive relationship between the presence of structural features and perceptions of website credibility as well as a positive relationship between the presence of message characteristics and attitudes about the health topic. Although Web-use orientation moderated the relationship between message characteristics and perceptions of website credibility, the nature of this relationship was inconsistent with study predictions.     

The findings and recommendations of the Attorney General's Commission on Pornography: Do the psychological "facts" fit the political fury?

The Attorney General's Commission on Pornography has concluded that there is a causal relationship between exposure to many forms of pornography and several antisocial effects, including increased levels of violence against women. As a result of these findings, the commission has called for more strict enforcement of existing obscenity laws and serious consideration of additional legal measures not traditionally handled under obscenity law. The authors question whether the social science data relied on by the commission justifies either the commission's conclusions about harm or the call for more stringent law enforcement. Although some of the commission's findings appear to be sound extrapolations from the empirical studies, the authors find several of the commission's findings and recommendations incongruent with available research data. Instead of advocating stricter legal controls the authors reiterate their call for educational programs to mitigate the effects of sexual violence in the media. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of long-term exposure to violent and sexually degrading depictions of women.

Investigated the effects of emotional desensitization to films of violence against women and the effects of sexually degrading explicit and nonexplicit films on beliefs about rape and the sexual objectification of women. Males viewed either 2 or 5 R-rated violent "slasher," X-rated nonviolent "pornographic," or R-rated nonviolent teenage-oriented ("teen sex") films. Affective reactions and cognitive perceptions were measured after each exposure. Later, these men and no-exposure control Ss completed a voir dire questionnaire, viewed a reenacted acquaintance or nonacquaintance sexual assault trial, and judged the defendant and alleged rape victim. Ss in the violent condition became less anxious and depressed and showed declines in negative affective responses. They were also less sympathetic to the victim and less empathetic toward rape victims in general. However, longer film exposure was necessary to affect general empathy. There were no differences in response between the R-rated teen sex film and the X-rated, sexually explicit, nonviolent film, and the no-exposure control conditions on the objectification or the rape trial variables. A model of desensitization to media violence and the carryover to decision making about victims is proposed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Facilitating effects of erotica on aggression against women.

To examine the effects of highly erotic stimuli on aggression against females, 60 male undergraduates were angered by a male or female confederate and exposed to an erotic film, an aggressive film, or a nonfilm condition. Ss were given 2 opportunities to aggress against the confederate. Both the aggressive and the erotic films increased aggression against both targets during the 1st and 2nd aggression opportunities; however, the erotic film facilitated aggression against the female target across the 2 aggression sessions. The processes operating to cause this increase are discussed in terms of reducing restraints against aggressive behavior and the specific cue value of erotic films. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of erotic stimuli on male aggression toward females.

To examine the effects of highly erotic films on aggression toward females, 72 male undergraduates were first either angered or treated in a neutral manner by a male or female confederate. After viewing a highly erotic or a neutral film, Ss were given an opportunity to both aggress against and reward the confederate. Erotic films were found to increase aggression overall, but there was no indication of differential aggression as a function of sex of target. Results for physiological arousal, however, suggested that aggression was possibly inhibited for Ss exposed to an erotic film and paired with a female. Suggestions for future lines of research based on the notion of inhibition are offered, along with observations regarding the sexual arousal and aggression relationship. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)