Preventing sexual aggression among college men: an evaluation of a social norms and bystander intervention program

Violence Against Women. 2011 Jun;17(6):720-42. doi: 10.1177/1077801211409727. Epub 2011 May 12.

Abstract

Men and women living in randomly selected 1st-year dormitories participated in tailored single-sex sexual assault prevention or risk-reduction programs, respectively. An evaluation of the men's project is presented (N = 635). The program incorporated social norms and bystander intervention education and had an impact on self-reported sexual aggression and an effect on men's perceptions that their peers would intervene when they encountered inappropriate behavior in others. Relative to the control group, participants also reported less reinforcement for engaging in sexually aggressive behavior, reported fewer associations with sexually aggressive peers, and indicated less exposure to sexually explicit media.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aggression*
  • Erotica
  • Female
  • Helping Behavior*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Media
  • Men
  • Perception
  • Rape / prevention & control*
  • Reinforcement, Psychology
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Social Environment
  • Social Responsibility*
  • Social Values*
  • Student Health Services*
  • Violence / prevention & control*
  • Young Adult