Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), chemsex and chemical submission: investigating the role of sexuality on victim empathy and blame attribution in drug-facilitated sexual assault against men

Lee, Harrison, Labhardt, Danielle ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9161-8786 and Willmott, Dominic (2024) Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), chemsex and chemical submission: investigating the role of sexuality on victim empathy and blame attribution in drug-facilitated sexual assault against men. Behavioral Sciences, 14 (10). 913. ISSN 2076-328X

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Abstract

Literature is sparse regarding men’s attitudes towards male sexual assault and the role that the sexuality of those involved may have. Despite the high prevalence of chemsex and GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) participation among men who have sex with men, no study has yet investigated attitudes towards such. Utilising a community sample of 141 UK men, participants were randomly assigned into one of six conditions based on victim sexuality (heterosexual or homosexual) and the drug used present during the sexual assault (chemsex, chemical submission, or no drugs). All participants completed the Male Rape Victim and Perpetrator Blaming Scale and Victim-Blaming Empathy Scale to measure victim-blame and empathy attributions. Results of a two-way MANOVA revealed a significant difference between participant gender and empathic ratings, with heterosexual participants significantly less likely to empathise than their homosexual counterparts. A non-significant difference was observed between the conditions alongside a non-significant interaction. Nevertheless, results indicate that victims in the chemsex condition, along with heterosexual victims, encountered the greatest victim-blaming attributions and the lowest rates of participant empathy overall. Findings overall appear to indicate a general decline in victim-blame attitudes towards men who have sex with men, though a level of uncertainty was apparent among the sample. Implications and limitations of the work are discussed alongside the importance of future research and psychoeducation interventions.