Sexual Assault Risk Reduction and Resistance: Theory, Research, and Practice

Sexual Assault Risk Reduction and Resistance explores the theory, research, and practice of sexual assault risk reduction, resistance education, and self-defense programs for women and other vulnerable groups, including sexual minorities, individuals with disabilities, and those with histories of victimization. Following an ecosystemic perspective, the book examines individual risk and protective factors for sexual victimization, as well as peer-, family-, community- and societal-level factors that influence risk for sexual violence and inform the content of programs.

This volume brings together leading researchers and practitioners to operationalize sexual assault risk reduction approaches and highlights the rationale and need for risk reduction in the context of other sexual assault prevention efforts. The volume provides an overview of the history of this sexual assault prevention approach and addresses current controversies and questions in the field. The authors outline risk and protective factors for victimization and discuss how these factors guide risk reduction efforts. The volume also outlines the theory and effectiveness of current sexual assault risk reduction and resistance practices and addresses special populations and future directions.

Reviews theoretical approaches to sexual assault risk reduction Summarizes program outcome studies Delineates feminist self-defense approachesDetails what it means for prevention to be "trauma informed"Considers how to provide risk reduction without victim-blamingConfronts current controversies in the field of sexual assault risk reductionDetails how prevention can address the role of alcohol in sexual violenceDiscusses international prevention efforts

1. Introduction 2. The Current State of Sexual Assault Risk Reduction 3. The Consequences of Rape: Ensuring that Interventions are Trauma Informed

PART 2: Risk and Protective Factors 4. Risk for Rape Across the Ecosystem: Outlining a Framework for Sexual Assault Risk Reduction and Resistance Education 5. Perpetrator Characteristics: Implications for Risk Reduction Programming, Policy and Sanctioning on College Campuses 6. “I thought it could never happen to me”: Understanding Women’s Perceptions of Risk for Violence 7. Psychological Barriers to Resistance 8. Fighting Back! Efficacy of Women’s Resistance Strategies to Rape 9. Alcohol Use and Risk for Sexual Violence

PART 3: Intervention Approaches and Efficacy 10. Approaches to Sexual Assault Risk Reduction, Resistance, and Self Defense 11. Efficacy of Sexual Assault Risk Reduction and Resistance Education Programs 12. Efficacy of Self Defense Training for Rape Resistance 13. Sexual Violence as a Global Health Problem: Theory and Intervention Efficacy

PART 4: Special Populations and Topics 14. Reducing Risk for Revictimization: Rationale and Intervention Approaches 15. Risk Reduction among LGBTQ Populations 16. Intersection of Sexual Assault Risk Reduction and HIV Prevention 17. Preventing the “Second Assault”:  Strategies for Enhancing Social Reactions to Disclosure of Sexual Victimization