Knowledge vs. Loyalty: How Group Maintenance Motivations Hinder Help-Seeking Suggestions in Acquaintance Sexual Violence

1. Background In Japan, the 2023 revision of the Penal Code established the crime of "Non-consensual Sexual Intercourse," explicitly clarifying the presence or absence of "consent" as the legal standard for sexual acts. Furthermore, as of 2026, intellectual understanding and literacy regarding what constitutes sexual harassment or non-consensual sexual acts have become widely prevalent due to the expansion of harassment prevention education. However, despite this increased awareness, a significant gap remains: victims who disclose their experiences to third parties are not consistently linked to appropriate consultation services or professional agencies. Most real-world cases of sexual violence occur between acquaintances. As seen in recent large-scale organizational scandals within Japanese society—involving major entertainment agencies and media corporations—serious sexual victimization often remains latent and concealed over long periods. This phenomenon suggests psychological dynamics at the organizational and group levels that go beyond "individual ignorance" or "rape myths" (prejudices), which have been the primary focus of traditional sexual violence research. When problems arise within a specific community, members often experience a "dynamic of concealment," prioritizing group maintenance and attempting to resolve issues internally. Smith and Freyd (2014) proposed the concept of "Institutional Betrayal," highlighting that the failure of trusted institutions or groups to respond appropriately to victimization (omission/inaction) constitutes a "second victimization" that inflicts profound harm on the victim. 2. Purpose of the Study This study focuses on why third parties who receive disclosures of sexual victimization might suppress help-seeking behaviors, even when they possess the knowledge to correctly recognize that the act was unjust. Specifically, this research aims to quantitatively verify the hypothesis that when a respondent belongs to the same community as both the victim and the perpetrator, the motivation for group maintenance (the pursuit of security and stability within the group) distorts the objective perception of sexual consent and hinders formal resolution, such as reporting to the police or specialized consultation desks. Reference Smith, C. P., & Freyd, J. J. (2014). Institutional betrayal. American Psychologist, 69(6), 575–587. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037564