Definition, Communication, and Interpretation of Sexual Consent

This chapter reviews the law and psychology of sexual consent communication. We first review state and federal statutes and campus policies defining consent. We then review research literature addressing general issues regarding the manner in which sexual consent and nonconsent tend to be conveyed and interpreted in potentially sexual interactions, and discuss factors that can promote miscommunication. Next, we review research concerning the question of whether men interpret women’s behaviors to indicate greater interest than women themselves intend (i.e., the question of the “overperception” bias). Finally, we review evidence regarding how specific female behaviors are interpreted by men, women judging other women and women reporting on the meaning of their own behaviors: in the process revisiting the question of the overperception bias for these behaviors and for behavioral categories such as alcohol use, dress, preliminary sexual behaviors, and others.