A 1978 study by Moreault and Follingstad[5] was consistent with this hypothesis and found that women with high levels of sex guilt were more likely to report fantasy themed around being overpowered, dominated, and helpless.
Other research suggests that women who report forced sex fantasies have a more positive attitude towards sexuality, contradicting the guilt hypothesis.
[6] A newer study from 1998 by Strassberg and Locker found that women who fantasized about force were generally less guilty and more erotophilic, and as a result had more frequent and varied fantasies.
[10] A 1998 study in the Archives of Sexual Behavior which surveyed 137 female undergraduate students aged 18 to 40 found that 40% had ever had a fantasy where they were "overpowered or forced to surrender".
Though consent is a crucial component of any sexual roleplay,[14] the illusion of non-consent (i.e. rape) is important to maintaining this type of fantasy.