Predicting Successful Evasion of Attempted Sexual Assault: Factors, Tactics, and Outcomes

ABSTRACT

The field of sexual violence prevention is based largely on implicit assumptions regarding individual-level skills and broader cultural beliefs and practices that predict victimization. As a consequence, recommendations for programming that addresses sexual assault, a problem with both structural and individual roots, remain underdeveloped. Research would benefit from an examination of the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors predicting effective protection and the degree to which these factors are predictive of sexual assault risk. This study uses extant program data to examine the way attitudes and behaviors believed to be associated with cultural change (i.e., primary prevention) and individual (i.e., risk reduction) approaches factor together and ultimately predict assault risk. Specifically, we conduct a two-phase analysis to (a) determine the attitudes and beliefs associated with primary prevention and risk reduction and (b) describe the associations between the factors yielded in the first phase and assault risk. Results indicate that, although no single subscale factor predicts assault risk or effective evasion of attempted assaults, the combination of these subscales consistently predicts these outcomes. Implications for campus programming and policy development are discussed.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

¹ Two important caveats about primary prevention and risk reduction must be noted here. First, although sexual assault is generally discussed as a women’s issue, we do not use that as a starting assumption for this work. Although it is true that rates of assault are higher for women than for heterosexual men, heterosexual men can be assaulted, and gay and bisexual men face rates of assault that are often higher than those of women (Walters, Chen, and Breiding 2013). Thus, in this paper we measure the impact of primary prevention programs and risk reduction programs on both men and women. We are able to do this, despite the general tendency in society to treat sexual assault as a women’s issue, for two reasons. First, primary prevention programming utilizes a community-level approach and is federally mandated for all college students. As a consequence, many of these programs, including most bystander intervention programs and social marketing campaigns, are equally aimed at both males and females. Second, although risk reduction programs have traditionally been aimed at only women, there are programs that address the risk of assault for males and allow males to attend. Elemental, the program from which this data is drawn, is one such program. Thus, our risk reduction measures do include males, albeit in smaller numbers than females. Second, although aspects of primary prevention programming can be aimed at perpetrators, much of the emphasis is on bystanders, while risk reduction programs focus on potential victims. Given these general emphases, this research focuses on programming that is aimed primarily at bystanders and potential victims. It does not speak to programs aimed at perpetrators nor does it address the larger debate about whether sexual assault prevention programming should primarily target victims, perpetrators, or both.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chadwick Menning

Chadwick Menning is professor of sociology at Ball State University. His research currently focuses on sexual assault prevention and related applications of sociological research. He has published in journals such as Journal of American College Health, College Teaching, Journal of Applied Social Sciences, Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Journal of Interpersonal Violence. He is the co-creator of Elemental, a sexual assault protection program. Chad can be contacted at [email protected] or Department of Sociology, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, 765-285-4690

Mellisa Holtzman

Mellisa Holtzman is professor of sociology at Ball State University. Her research interests are centered on sex, gender, and sexual assault prevention. Her published work includes articles in Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Journal of American College Health, Journal of Applied Social Sciences, and Teaching Sociology. Mellisa is the co-creator and current director of Elemental, a sexual assault protection program that utilizes both primary prevention and risk reduction training for students. Mellisa can be contacted at [email protected] or Department of Sociology, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, 765-285-5253.