Examining Sex Differences in Altering Attitudes About Rape: A Test of the Elaboration Likelihood Model

Abstract

This intervention sought to improve first‐year college students' attitudes about rape. The Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) was used to examine men and women's attitude change processes. Both quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used to examine how men and women construed rape prevention messages. Results indicated numerous sex differences in the ways in which men and women experienced and changed during and after the rape prevention intervention. Women seemed to use more central‐route attitude change processes and showed more lasting change from the intervention at 2‐month follow‐up, whereas men seemed to attend more to peripheral cues of the speaker and demonstrated more transient attitude change.