The Psychology of Human Sexuality - Consent Poster

Posted December 8, 2017

This is an image of educational material provided by the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, in the state of Washington (USA). The materials present two important concepts related to consensual sexual relationships. In the left-hand column is “consent.” Here, the emphasis is on asking for and receiving a “verbal” yes for consent, and that this consent must include all parties to the sexual encounter. It states that people who are drunk, high, or asleep, cannot give consent. In the right-hand column is “power.” Here, the emphasis is on the importance of equality and autonomy in the relationship. Equal power means that the parties in the sexual encounter trust each other, do not pressure each other, or threaten one another.