Perceptions of sexual consent: the impact of relationship history and gender.

The current study examined how situational (i.e., couple-specific relationship experience) and participant (i.e., gender) factors influence attributions about sexual consent. Four hundred and fourteen undergraduates were randomly assigned to read one of three vignettes in which consent for sexual intercourse was ambiguous. Within the three conditions the couple's relationship history was manipulated. A 2 x 3 between subjects multivariate analysis of variance revealed that, as the degree of intimacy between the couple increased, perceptions of consent, acceptability, and clarity increased. A main effect for participant gender also was found. Men, more than women, perceived the scenarios as more consensual, acceptable, and clear regardless of relationship experience. No interaction was found. These findings are discussed in light of sexual precedence and sexual scripts.