The Relationship between Attitudes toward Sexual Consent and Perceived Appropriateness of Punishment: A Comparison of Korea and Japan

Abstract

Attitudes toward sexual consent are related to sentencing recommendations for sexual perpetrators in Japan and Canada. However, this tendency may also depend on culture. This study investigated the cultural differences in perceived appropriateness of punishment against sexual crimes as a function of attitudes toward sexual consent in Japan and Korea. Consistent with previous research, the results of the hierarchical regression analysis showed that Japanese participants who perceived sexual consent as important were more likely to perceive punishment as appropriate. However, the opposite pattern was observed among Korean participants. A possible reason for these findings was further discussed.