Dimensions of Empathy Correlated with Identification As Asexual Violence Perpetrator: Moderating Role of Sex

Introduction: Estimates of the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses range from between 15% of students to as high as 53% across populations sampled. This study hypothesized that perpetrators would have significantly lower levels of empathy across four dimensions of empathy. We further hypothesized that these relationships would differ by gender identity.

Methods: 353 college-enrolled students aged 18 years and older voluntarily self-selected into the study. The final sample consisted of 171 students who fully responded in a timely manner to all survey questions. Participants were at 12 U.S. universities. Study information was sent out across general education e-mail listserves at each university. Informed consent was obtained in the online survey. Students completed the sexual experiences survey, the interpersonal reactivity index, and the racism, acceptance, and cultural-ethnocentrism scale (RACES), and sociodemographic and substance use questions. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests for independence by perpetrator status were conducted. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression were used to assess for correlates of perpetration.

Results: 18 individuals were identified as sexual violence perpetrators (10.5%). Nearly half reported female sex (n = 8). The largest racial group was White (58.5% n = 100), followed by Latino (19.3%, n = 33). More than 10% of our sample were not heterosexual (n = 22, 12.9%). Almost 70% of the sample had had at least one drink of alcohol in the past thirty days (n = 119). 17 (94.4%) of the perpetrators had had at least one drink of alcohol in the last 30-days. 40% of students reported having binge drank (n = 70), 12 (66.7%) perpetrators binge drank. Bivariate regression revealed that empathic concern, RACES and female sex, and drinking were factors associated with identification as perpetrator. In the final model, drinking, female sex, and each value of the empathic concern scale (OR = .816, SE = .079, p = .038) were each associated with identification as perpetrator in addition to an interaction term between empathic concern and female reported sex. Women, regardless of empathic concern have low probability to perpetrate sexual violence, while men with low empathic concern have probability that exceeds 70%.

Discussion & Implications: The prevention of sexual violence on college campuses is necessary. Identification of those individuals who drink, and those who drink heavily are an important tool for preventionists. The current study adds to the field by showing that the identification and targeting for sexual violence prevention programming those with low levels of empathic concern is warranted.