Associations between Acute Alcohol Intoxication, Political Orientation and Rape Myth Acceptance in Male Pub Drinkers

This study is the first to examine the direct influence of acute alcohol intoxication on rape myth acceptance (RMA) in a real-world drinking scenario. The combined effects of participant sex, sexuality, political orientation and education were also assessed. Participants were recruited from a pub in southern England. Results indicated that breath alcohol concentration and a right-leaning political orientation were each independently associated with higher RMA scores, with the strongest effects observed among heterosexual male participants. While 67% of the sample ( n = 142) did not endorse any rape myths, within that group, both alcohol intoxication and a right-leaning political orientation were associated with weakened levels of rape myth rejection. Findings are therefore consistent with a continuous-threshold model of RMA, whereby alcohol intoxication and political orientation may be associated with individuals′ position along a rejection-ambivalence-acceptance continuum. In the full sample, these factors corresponded with attenuated rejection among non-endorsers and stronger endorsement among those accepting at least one myth. This suggests that the same underlying influences both weaken rape myth resistance and – once a threshold is crossed – amplify RMA. However, placebo-controlled experimental and longitudinal studies are needed to establish causality between predictor and outcome variables and clarify links between attitudinal shifts and harmful sexual behaviour.