Abstract
A sample of 340 men anonymously completed the Relationship Scales Questionnaire, Young Schema Questionnaire – Short Form, an expanded version of the Sexual Experiences Survey – Perpetration Version, and the revised Attraction to Sexual Aggression Scale, to investigate the relationship among attachment, maladaptive schemas, rape and sexual assault perpetration, and attraction to sexual aggression. In the current study there were a total of 38 men who admitted to rape perpetration (11.4%) and 49 men who admitted to sexual assault perpetration (14.8%). Analyses indicated rape perpetrators reported greater levels of the schemas abandonment/instability and defectiveness/shame, with only somewhat greater levels of emotional deprivation than nonperpetrators. Rape perpetrators were not found to differ from sexual assault perpetrators nor were sexual assault perpetrators found to differ from nonperpetrators on these dimensions. Perpetration groups did not differ on the other schemas considered. Greater levels of attraction to sexual aggression were associated with greater levels of social isolation/alienation and insufficient self-control/self-discipline, but not other schemas. Results failed to show differences between perpetration groups on any of the three attachment styles examined nor was attraction to sexual aggression related to attachment. With regards to collectively predicting perpetration status, those who endorsed greater levels of the schemas emotional deprivation and defectiveness/shame, and who endorsed less social isolation/alienation, had a greater likelihood of being classified as a rape perpetrator, while those who endorsed lower levels of the schema mistrust/abuse had a greater likelihood of being classified as a sexual assault perpetrator. When collectively predicting attraction to sexual assault, only greater levels of the schemas insufficient self-control/self-discipline and social isolation/alienation were associated with greater attraction to sexual aggression. Clinical and research implications are discussed.