Factors predicting the type of tactics used to resist sexual assault: A prospective study of college women.

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine how women's intentions, as well as psychological and situational factors, predicted the actual use of resistance tactics in response to a sexual assault situation over a 2-month follow-up period. Twenty-eight percent of the 378 undergraduate women who participated at the baseline assessment and returned for the follow-up session 8 weeks later were victimized over the interim period. The results suggested that women's reported use of verbally assertive tactics was predicted by the intention to use verbally assertive tactics, concern about injury, greater confidence, and feelings of being isolated or controlled by the perpetrator. The use of physically assertive tactics was predicted by increased severity of the attack, greater confidence, and feelings of being isolated or controlled by the perpetrator. The use of nonforceful tactics was predicted by intentions to use nonforceful tactics, increased self-consciousness, knowing the perpetrator prior to the assault, fears of losing the relationship with the perpetrator, and no history of childhood sexual victimization. These findings have important implications in sexual assault risk-reduction programming.

Sexual assault: a descriptive study of 2500 female victims over a 10‐year period

“…The degree of resistance is an important factor for the way the victim and others perceive the sexual assault . Our study shows that almost half the women did not resist, either physically or verbally, during the assault.…”

Behavioral response to threat (BRTT) as a key behavior for sexual assault risk reduction intervention: A critical review

“…Significant predictors of diplomatic BRTTs were increased self-consciousness and feelings of sadness, accounting for 25% of the variance. Other studies utilizing this model or related constructs have found that high relationship expectancies were predictive of both diplomatic and non-forceful BRTTs (Macy, et al 2006;Turchik, et al 2007).…”

“…Other research has found that when participants perceive greater negative consequences, such as embarrassment, for not undertaking self-protective behaviors, they are more likely to take action to protect themselves (Orchowski, Untied, & Gidycz, 2012). Interpersonal factors are less well researched but have been associated with specific BRTTs; higher relationship expectancies, relationship concerns, and a prior relationship with the perpetrator have been associated with diplomatic and non-forceful BRTTs (Macy, Nurius, & Norris, 2006;Turchik, et al 2007).…”

Psychological Consequences Associated With Positive and Negative Responses to Disclosure of Sexual Assault Among College Women

“…Sexual assault is especially prevalent on college campuses (Humphrey & White, 2000). Over a relatively short 10-week academic quarter, between 11% to 28% of college women report some form of unwanted sexual experience, ranging from unwanted sexual contact to rape (Gidycz, Orchowski, King, & Rich, 2008; Rich, Gidycz, Warkentin, Loh, & Weiland, 2005; Turchik, Probst, Chau, Nigoff, & Gidycz, 2007). …”