The approach–avoidance perspective provides a theoretical framework through which the dynamic nature of sexual harassment can be understood meaningfully in a workplace context. Rather than being purely threat or incentive, potentially harassing situations may contain elements of both, leading to approach and avoidance attitudes. Across two studies, we explore how three factors (relative attractiveness, gender, and relationship status) affect approach–avoidance attitudes in the target (study 1) and initiator (study 2), and how these attitudes affect (a) labeling the interaction as sexual harassment and (b) forecasts of filing a complaint. Results indicate that the three factors affect approach and avoidance attitudes for both targets and initiators, and that these attitudes mediate both the effect of labeling the interaction as sexual harassment and forecasts of filing a complaint. Implications for managers, human resources personnel, and other third parties who manage sexual harassment disputes are discussed.

避免方法的观点提供了一个理论框架，通过该框架可以在工作场所中有意义地理解性骚扰的动态性质。潜在的骚扰情况可能不仅包含威胁或诱因，还可能包含这两者的要素，从而导致采取态度和回避态度。在两项研究中，我们探讨了三个因素（相对吸引力，性别和关系状况）如何影响目标（研究1）和发起者（研究2）中的方法回避态度，以及这些态度如何影响（a）将互动标记为性骚扰和（b）提出投诉的预测。结果表明，这三个因素都会影响目标和发起者的进近和回避态度，这些态度既可以将互动标记为性骚扰，也可以预测提起投诉。讨论了对管理性骚扰争议的经理，人力资源人员和其他第三方的影响。