Blowing the Whistle: Determinants of Responses to Sexual Harassment

This research used a scenario study and survey data to examine the effects of 3 factors (position power, personal power, and organizational efficacy) on responses to sexual harassment. Results of the scenario study revealed that the position power and personal power of the victim and the efficacy with which the organization dealt with previous incidents of sexual harassment were positively associated with the likelihood that participants actively responded to a hypothetical incident of sexual harassment. Similarly, analyses of the survey data revealed that position power, personal power, and organizational efficacy significantly predicted actual victims' responses to experienced sexual harassment. However, contrary to prediction, personal power was negatively associated with the number of active responses taken by actual victims. Results also suggested that the effects of position power, personal power, and organizational efficacy were not significantly moderated by individuals' previous experience with sexual harassment or their level of education.