The Perceived Intent of Potentially Offensive Sexual Behaviors Among Adolescents

Individual differences may partly explain how students react to potentially offensive sexual behaviors from peers. This study focused on situational and personal characteristics that may make such behaviors more or less upsetting. Six hundred and thirty two Quebecois high-school students in Grades 8–11 completed questionnaires regarding their experience with potentially offensive sexual behaviors. Behaviors experienced at the hand of a close friend were less upsetting than those experienced at the hand of other peers. Compared with high self-esteem peers, students with lower self-esteem were more upset by such behaviors and were more likely to perceive the perpetrator's intent as unacceptable. In addition to sex of target, self-esteem, and relationship with the perpetrator, the attribution of unacceptable intent to the perpetrator predicted upset ratings.