Effect of Alcohol Intoxication on Bystander Intervention in a Vignette Depiction of Sexual Assault

Objective:Alcohol-related sexual violence remains a public health problem. Despite the popularity of sexual assault bystander intervention programs, these may be limited in addressing bystander intoxication because the effects of intoxication on intervening in a sexual assault are unknown. Therefore, we tested the effects of alcohol intoxication on the five steps of bystander intervention in a sexual assault vignette.Method:Young adults (N = 128; 50% women) were randomly assigned to consume alcohol (target blood alcohol concentration = 0.08%; n = 64) or a nonalcoholic control beverage (n = 64) in a bar-laboratory. Next, participants were presented with a vignette describing events occurring in a convivial drinking context that ends with nonconsensual sexual behavior. Latane and Darley’s bystander intervention model steps were assessed in a semistructured interview.Results:Participants in the control condition recalled the story more accurately (Step 1: notice the event) and reported greater risk/need for ...