title: Effects of Duration on Perceptions of Teacher Sexual Misconduct.
abstract: This study explored how respondent gender, gender dyad (male teacher-female student versus female teacher-male student) and duration/frequency (weekly sexual contact over 4 months versus a single incident) affected perceptions of teacher-adolescent student sexual involvement. Respondents were 224 undergraduates (104 men, 120 women) recruited from a psychology research pool. Most (87%) were 18-21 years old, and 59% were Caucasian. Each respondent read one of four scenarios (varied by gender dyad and duration/frequency) depicting a teacher-adolescent student sexual interaction and then completed a series of questions about his or her perceptions. Results indicated that men perceived these experiences less negatively than did women, and the female teacher-male student dyad was viewed less negatively than the male teacher-female student dyad. Relatively few significant interactions emerged, and the only main effect for duration/frequency was for commitment. Results are discussed in terms of the need for more research and education.
authors.affiliation: a Psychology Department , Middle Tennessee State University , Murfreesboro , Tennessee , USA.
authors.forename: Mary Ellen
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fromuth
authors.affiliation: a Psychology Department , Middle Tennessee State University , Murfreesboro , Tennessee , USA.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: a Psychology Department , Middle Tennessee State University , Murfreesboro , Tennessee , USA.
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brallier
authors.affiliation: a Psychology Department , Middle Tennessee State University , Murfreesboro , Tennessee , USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: a Psychology Department , Middle Tennessee State University , Murfreesboro , Tennessee , USA.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Benson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D000070777:School Teachers / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescent; gender issues; legal issues; sexual abuse