Sexual harassment has become such an everyday story on the news, often involving people in a position to abuse their power:  those who own or manage large businesses; who stand at the apex of power in their field; who, by virtue of their professional education, skill, experience, or expertise, are in a position to dole out valuable work, goods, or services, or to thwart their transfer; those who control large amounts of information, money, talent, fame, or access to them. They work in all industries and are old and young, mostly wealthy or prestigious, mostly male. What makes any person think sexual harassment of another human being is ever OK?

John Pryor, a psychologist at Illinois State University, has been trying to answer this question for more than three decades.  According to the Washington Post, Dr. Pryor is a pioneer in the study of sexual harassment.  In 1987, he created a test to measure a man’s tendency to harass. His “Likelihood to Sexually Harass” scale has become a cornerstone in research on sexual harassers.

Pryor and other researchers have used socially engineered situations in laboratories to study how well the test predicts people’s behavior. Over the years, they’ve identified these factors as the most distinctive in harassers: lack of empathy, belief in traditional gender roles, and a tendency towards dominance/authoritarianism. The environment surrounding such harassers also has a huge effect:

“If you take men who score high on the scale and put them in situations where the system suggests they can get away with it, they will do it,” Pryor told The Post. “Impunity plays a large role.”

Research has shown that power warps one’s perception of others. Power can also make people more impulsive, less worried about social conventions, and less concerned about the impact of one’s actions on others. Experiments have shown:

• People who see themselves as wealthy are more likely to cut pedestrians off on a crosswalk.
• Those who feel powerful are more likely to be more focused on themselves, more likely to objectify others, and more likely to overestimate how much others like them.

If someone in a position of power wants to have sex, they’re more likely to think others want the same, and with them. One common allegation against powerful predators is exposing themselves to others in the apparent belief the other person will see them as irresistibly sexy.

An explanation may come from a 2011 study that found those in leadership positions believe they pick up sexual signals from subordinates that don’t actually exist. In an experiment involving 78 adults, those appointed as leaders in a project were much more likely to perceive sexual interest from their subordinates, even when the subordinate stated in surveys they had no sexual interest at all.

Interactions were video recorded and leaders were much more likely to act on that misperception, touching a subordinate’s leg or engaging in eye gazing. This perception of romantic interest can lead to a feeling the person is free to touch a subordinate, which can then lead to misconduct. Researchers have also found that sexual harassment is not just about power, but, unsurprisingly, about sex as well. Those scoring high on Pryor’s scale are found to mix the two. They see sex and power as one and the same.

Men are primarily society’s sexual harassers, and the reason may be they’re much more likely to be in positions of power and are wealthier. Sexual harassment may also be seen as a sign of dominance, of putting women “in their place.” Research has shown that men are also more aggressive, more socialized to seek sex, and believe they have a right to it.  There also is a hormonal factor:  testosterone.

When victims of sexual harassment stand up to those abusing them, they make it clear the harasser can’t act with impunity, there are real consequences to bad behavior, and victims aren’t working just to satisfy someone else’s sexual fantasies. As victims receive more support, more of them are likely to stand up, and harassers may start to see themselves just like anyone else does. They aren’t entitled to abuse or manipulate others to satisfy themselves.

Sexual harassment and retaliation for complaining of it are illegal under federal and New Jersey laws. If your employer is breaking the law and you want to know what you should do to protect yourself, contact our office. Come in for a near-term reduced fee legal consult. We will listen to your facts, explain the law, and together we will develop a plan of action that is just right for you.  Call now.  You will be glad you did.