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Using an evolutionary psychological approach to understand sex-specific pathways to sexual harassment / SHONAGH RIBEIRO

Swansea University Author: SHONAGH RIBEIRO

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DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUThesis.71300

Abstract

Background. Traditional sexual harassment research overlooks asymmetries in men and women’s evolved mating strategies. There is a lack of understanding, evident in the continued global sexual harassment problem and elusiveness of effective intervention. Sexual harassment as an unintentional behaviou...

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Published: Swansea University 2025
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
Supervisor: Thomas, A. G. and Davies, E. J.
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71300
first_indexed 2026-01-23T12:26:15Z
last_indexed 2026-01-24T05:35:33Z
id cronfa71300
recordtype RisThesis
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spelling 2026-01-23T13:35:00.8634647 v2 71300 2026-01-23 Using an evolutionary psychological approach to understand sex-specific pathways to sexual harassment 775856ca9007081652251b9695e1e87d SHONAGH RIBEIRO SHONAGH RIBEIRO true false 2026-01-23 Background. Traditional sexual harassment research overlooks asymmetries in men and women’s evolved mating strategies. There is a lack of understanding, evident in the continued global sexual harassment problem and elusiveness of effective intervention. Sexual harassment as an unintentional behaviour is rarely considered, despite clear indication it is frequently an extrememate-acquisition attempt. Aims. This research applied an evolutionary psychological lens to understand cognitive processes underpinning sexual harassment behaviour, while integrating other theories and examining sex-specific influences. The objective was to develop a model(s) of sexual harassment behaviour to inform the development of future evidence-based preventative intervention(s). As the most prevalent issue, the primary focus was male-on-female harassment, but female-on-male harassment was also investigated. Method. Sexual harassment was examined both quantitatively and qualitatively, using real life examples and measured traits and attitudes to guide each step of the research and the continued development of novel paradigms: The Sexual Harassment Attitude Measure and a “Permissive Beliefs” measure. Primary predictions were that sex would significantly impact sexual harassment engagement and pathways to such behaviour. Results. Hypotheses were largely supported, as was the application of evolutionary psychological logic. Men’s persistence was a poignant issue for women. Whilst sociosexuality, outcome expectancies, and cognitive distortions were predictors of both sex’s behaviour, interactions between these differed by sex. Thus, sex-specific models of sexual harassment behaviour were developed. The novel measurement of Permissive Beliefs demonstrated reliability and significantly contributed to understanding sexual harassment. Conclusion. Evolved psychology and other influences of sexual behaviours impact men’sand women’s sexual harassment engagement in distinct ways. Measuring Permissive Beliefs provided a bridge for the thought-to-behaviour gap regarding how cognitive distortions lead tosexual harassment. As the research focus, an integrative hypothetical model of men’s harassment was generated. Implications for theory and research are discussed, and proposals for tailored, proactive interventions are made. E-Thesis Swansea University Sexual harassment, evolutionary psychology, sex differences, cognitive distortions, persistence, outcome expectancies, sociosexuality, miscommunication, mating behaviour 18 12 2025 2025-12-18 10.23889/SUThesis.71300 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Thomas, A. G. and Davies, E. J. Doctoral Ph.D ESRC doctoral training grant ESRC doctoral training grant 2026-01-23T13:35:00.8634647 2026-01-23T12:10:19.9209996 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Psychology SHONAGH RIBEIRO 1 71300__36091__95a4f5ee2ae94cc7ac0d15da7971af53.pdf 2025_Ribeiro_S.final.71300.pdf 2026-01-23T12:25:29.7431056 Output 9116448 application/pdf E-Thesis – open access true Copyright: the author, Shonagh Ribeiro, 2025 true eng
title Using an evolutionary psychological approach to understand sex-specific pathways to sexual harassment
spellingShingle Using an evolutionary psychological approach to understand sex-specific pathways to sexual harassment
SHONAGH RIBEIRO
title_short Using an evolutionary psychological approach to understand sex-specific pathways to sexual harassment
title_full Using an evolutionary psychological approach to understand sex-specific pathways to sexual harassment
title_fullStr Using an evolutionary psychological approach to understand sex-specific pathways to sexual harassment
title_full_unstemmed Using an evolutionary psychological approach to understand sex-specific pathways to sexual harassment
title_sort Using an evolutionary psychological approach to understand sex-specific pathways to sexual harassment
author_id_str_mv 775856ca9007081652251b9695e1e87d
author_id_fullname_str_mv 775856ca9007081652251b9695e1e87d_***_SHONAGH RIBEIRO
author SHONAGH RIBEIRO
author2 SHONAGH RIBEIRO
format E-Thesis
publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
doi_str_mv 10.23889/SUThesis.71300
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Psychology{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Psychology
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Background. Traditional sexual harassment research overlooks asymmetries in men and women’s evolved mating strategies. There is a lack of understanding, evident in the continued global sexual harassment problem and elusiveness of effective intervention. Sexual harassment as an unintentional behaviour is rarely considered, despite clear indication it is frequently an extrememate-acquisition attempt. Aims. This research applied an evolutionary psychological lens to understand cognitive processes underpinning sexual harassment behaviour, while integrating other theories and examining sex-specific influences. The objective was to develop a model(s) of sexual harassment behaviour to inform the development of future evidence-based preventative intervention(s). As the most prevalent issue, the primary focus was male-on-female harassment, but female-on-male harassment was also investigated. Method. Sexual harassment was examined both quantitatively and qualitatively, using real life examples and measured traits and attitudes to guide each step of the research and the continued development of novel paradigms: The Sexual Harassment Attitude Measure and a “Permissive Beliefs” measure. Primary predictions were that sex would significantly impact sexual harassment engagement and pathways to such behaviour. Results. Hypotheses were largely supported, as was the application of evolutionary psychological logic. Men’s persistence was a poignant issue for women. Whilst sociosexuality, outcome expectancies, and cognitive distortions were predictors of both sex’s behaviour, interactions between these differed by sex. Thus, sex-specific models of sexual harassment behaviour were developed. The novel measurement of Permissive Beliefs demonstrated reliability and significantly contributed to understanding sexual harassment. Conclusion. Evolved psychology and other influences of sexual behaviours impact men’sand women’s sexual harassment engagement in distinct ways. Measuring Permissive Beliefs provided a bridge for the thought-to-behaviour gap regarding how cognitive distortions lead tosexual harassment. As the research focus, an integrative hypothetical model of men’s harassment was generated. Implications for theory and research are discussed, and proposals for tailored, proactive interventions are made.
published_date 2025-12-18T05:34:58Z
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score 11.096068

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