# A Field Study Examining the Effects of Alcohol, Bar Environment & Beliefs on Sexual Misperception, a Precursor to Sexual Aggression

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2022 · $46,752

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Sexual aggression, which refers to a continuum of sexual activities with a nonconsenting partner from
unwanted sexual contact to forced penetration1, is an intractable public health problem. Despite a substantial
investment in prevention and intervention efforts, rates of sexual aggression perpetration remain high, with 26
– 42% of men self-reporting past perpetration of sexual aggression2. One pathway to sexual aggression
perpetration that has received considerable attention and empirical support is sexual misperception, or the
erroneous perception of a potential partner’s sexual interest or consent3-6. Sexual misperception shares
several key risk factors with sexual aggression perpetration, making it a valuable intermediary mechanism for
examining perpetration constructs. Specifically, both sexual misperception and sexual aggression perpetration
are associated with alcohol intoxication6-12 and a constellation of attitudes collectively referred to as the
Confluence Model4,5,13-18. Although evidence suggests acute intoxication and Confluence Model constructs
interact to predict sexual misperception, the nature of this interaction is unclear and the underlying
mechanisms remain unexamined. This proposal aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of
alcohol and Confluence Model constructs on sexual misperception and directly assess this interaction through
an alcohol myopia (AM) framework. AM theory posits that alcohol’s effects on behavior are driven by its ability
to direct attention to impelling (“go”) cues and away from inhibiting (“stop”) cues19. Attention to these cues is
also influenced by a priori knowledge structures20-22 such as those encapsulated in the Confluence Model and
those activated by the environment. The proposed research will directly measure the impact of Confluence
Model constructs on intoxicated men’s attention to impelling and inhibiting cues of sexual interest and the
effects of attention to these cues on sexual misperception in a field setting. Conducting this research at
drinking venues addresses several significant gaps in the literature, namely the generalizability of these
processes and the effects of contextual cues, which have substantial potential to inform intervention design
and evaluation. This proposal is commensurate with the candidate’s desire to develop a research program
centered around understanding the mechanisms underpinning alcohol-involved sexual misperception and
sexual aggression perpetration. Through the proposed research and training plan, the applicant will develop
the skills and expertise needed to make a substantive contribution to alcohol and sexual aggression research
as an independent clinical scientist.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10604598
- **Project number:** 1F31AA030457-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Lauren Michelle Smith
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $46,752
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-16 → 2025-09-15

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10604598

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10604598, A Field Study Examining the Effects of Alcohol, Bar Environment & Beliefs on Sexual Misperception, a Precursor to Sexual Aggression (1F31AA030457-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10604598. Licensed CC0.

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