GHB, Chemsex and Chemical Submission: Investigating the Role of Sexuality on Victim Empathy and Blame Attribution in Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault against Men

Lee, Harrison; Labhardt, Danielle; Willmott, Dominic

doi:10.3390/bs14100913

GHB, Chemsex and Chemical Submission: Investigating the Role of Sexuality on Victim Empathy and Blame Attribution in Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault against Men

StatusVoR

Dublin Core metadata

Authors

Lee, Harrison

Labhardt, Danielle

Willmott, Dominic

Date

2024-10-08

Journal title

Behavioral Sciences

Issue

10

Volume

14

Pages

1-18

DOI

10.3390/bs14100913

ISSN

2076-328X

Weblink

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/10/913

Access date

2024-10-08

Abstract EN

Literature is sparse regarding men’s attitudes towards male sexual assault and the role that the sexuality of those involved may have. Despite the high prevalence of chemsex and GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) participation among men who have sex with men, no study has yet investigated attitudes towards such. Utilising a community sample of 141 UK men, participants were randomly assigned into one of six conditions based on victim sexuality (heterosexual or homosexual) and the drug used present during the sexual assault (chemsex, chemical submission, or no drugs). All participants completed the Male Rape Victim and Perpetrator Blaming Scale and Victim-Blaming Empathy Scale to measure victim-blame and empathy attributions. Results of a two-way MANOVA revealed a significant difference between participant gender and empathic ratings, with heterosexual participants significantly less likely to empathise than their homosexual counterparts. A non-significant difference was observed between the conditions alongside a non-significant interaction. Nevertheless, results indicate that victims in the chemsex condition, along with heterosexual victims, encountered the greatest victim-blaming attributions and the lowest rates of participant empathy overall. Findings overall appear to indicate a general decline in victim-blame attitudes towards men who have sex with men, though a level of uncertainty was apparent among the sample. Implications and limitations of the work are discussed alongside the importance of future research and psychoeducation interventions.

Keywords EN

male sexual victimisation
chemsex
gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
victim empathy
blame attribution
victim blame
male rape
sexuality
men who have sex with men (MSM)