Men may make women the recipients of unwanted brushes, pinches, and kisses to establish their masculinity or as their prerogative. In far too many movies, women are depicted as responding positively to men who put them in their place through physical aggression. Male politicians such as Senator Robert Packwood, who in 1995 resigned from the U. S. Senate after formal censure by the U. S. Senate Ethics Committee, may perceive they have the right to take kisses because of their position.
Targets of assault may be selected from among those perceived as more vulnerable. Self-admitted rapists were able to more accurately interpret facial nonverbal cues than control respondents (Giannini &. Fellows, 1986). Those who target others for various types of sexual abuse (including sexual harassment) may choose victims based on their skills at reading nonverbal cues indicating vulnerability.