The Effects of Kink on Sexual Harassment Proclivity

This study investigates the concept of kink as a predictor of sexual harassment proclivity. A kink, the sexual preference for stimuli that deviate from the norm, can come in many different forms and oftenleads to stigmatization and isolation. Individual and interpersonal influences, such as sexual fantasies, pornography, and dating, are explored as aspects of the concept of kink that have previously been linked to sexual harassment proclivity. This study investigates whether these influences, when cumulatively used under the umbrella term kink, can be used as a predictor of sexual harassment proclivity. Additionally,toxic masculinity/femininity is investigated as a moderator, that may amplify the effect of kink on the sexual harassment proclivity. The results do not support the hypothesis that kink influences the sexual harassment proclivity, but confirm that toxic masculinity/femininity predicts an increased sexual harassment proclivity in men and women. Additionally, it was found that men score higher in kink, the proclivity to sexually harass, and toxic masculinity/femininity, than women. These findings provide information that can be used in designing preventative measures for sexual harassment.