Back to Page
Authors: Dicle Ozel, Arthur Nezu
Keywords: Social problem solving, Sexual Aggression, Cultural Differences, Violence
Abstract: The aim of this poster is to evaluate the relationship between sexual aggression, cultural differences and potential mediators, such as social problem solving. Aggression is defined as any act intended to cause harm, pain or injury in another. Sexual aggression is defined as a person engaging in sexual behavior with someone who does not or cannot consent to engage in that behavior (Zorumski, 2012). Sexual aggression is a significant public health threat for both men and women. Traumatic events such as childhood sexual abuse, witnessing domestic violence and childhood physical abuse are factors that contribute to the expression of sexual aggression in adulthood. Past scholarship indicates a possible connection between social problem solving and expression of sexual aggression in adult life. Social problem-solving, in its most basic form, is defined as problem solving as it occurs in the natural environment. More specifically it refers to the cognitive-behavioral process in which one works to find adaptive ways of coping with everyday situations that are considered problematic (Dzurilla & Nezu, 1982). Sex and culture differences pose as important factors that affect the onset and display of aggressive behavior. Numerous studies from non-western nations indicate that perpetration of physical aggression is clearly in the male direction, in contrast to the typical findings for western samples; gender equality was inversely related to the level of women’s victimization. Past scholarship findings indicates that individualism is closely associated with women’s empowerment. Current and past research findings were extrapolated and synthesized to extend and formulate novel ideas. The effect of potential mediators of the relationship between specific factors (e.g., sex, culture) and aggression is important to consider in future research. This literature review was conducted using Drexel University Library’s database as well as Google Scholars. The articles investigated have been published between the years of 1970 and 2019.
References
1. Dzurilla, T. J., & Nezu, A. (1982). Social Problem Solving in Adults. Advances in Cognitive–Behavioral Research and Therapy,201-274. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-010601-1.50010-3
2. Zorumski, C., & Rubin, E. (2012). Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. Oxford Medicine Online. doi:10.1093/med/9780199768769.001.1