Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault:

 

Sexual Assault Definition:

Intentional sexual contact, characterized by use of force, physical threat, or abuse of authority or when the victim does not or cannot consent. Sexual assault can occur without regard to gender, spousal relationship, or age.

 

Defining Consent:

Shall not be deemed or construed to mean the failure by the victim to offer physical resistance. Consent is not given when a perpetrator uses force, threat of force, coercion, or when the victim is asleep, incapacitated, or unconscious.

 

Sexual Assault/Abuse Behaviors:

 

  • Rape or sexual assault.
  • Child sexual assault and incest.
  • Sexual assault by a person’s spouse or partner.
  • Unwanted sexual contact.
    • Frottage-Brushing up against, staring, touching, grooming.
  • Sexual Harassment-Verbal/physical/cyber/physically aggressive/sexual assault (Work, school, public place).
  • Sexual exploitation and trafficking.
  • Exposing one’s genitals or naked body to others without consent.
  • Masturbating in public.
  • Watching someone engage in private acts without their knowledge or permission-peeping.
  • Nonconsensual image sharing.

 

Statistics:

  • 1 in 5 women in the US experienced completed or attempted rape during their lifetime. Nearly a quarter of men in the US experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime. This includes rape, being made to penetrate someone else, sexual coercion, or unwanted sexual contact.
  • Nationwide, 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and or sexual assault in their lifetime.
  • Forty percent of rapes and sexual assaults were reported to police in 2017, but only about 25% were reported to police in 2018.
  • The 2019 Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct found that, at 33 of the nation’s major universities, almost one in 4 undergraduate women experienced sexual assault or misconduct.
  • The prevalence of false reporting for sexual assault crimes is low-between 2% and 10%.

 

Stages of Change
Stage 1: Precontemplation No intention of taking any action in the next 6 months.

Not yet accepted the fact that a change needs to be made or that their behavior is a cause of distress for them.

May show defensive behavior or signs of ‘denial’ about their current bad habits when their condition is brought to light.

Strategies to help: Awareness of ill effects of current behavior – Analyze the risks of current behavior
Stage 2: Contemplation At this stage, people are at a position where they are considering a change that needs to be made (within 6 months).

They are analyzing the risks and benefits of their actions and the needed change, although they are still not entirely convinced the long-term benefits of the change are worth the effort.

This stage may go on for a much longer time and many even give up on this stage.

Strategies to help: Weigh both the short-term and long-term pros and cons of current behavior and the change needed. Analyze what is hindering them from beginning the change
Stage 3: Preparation Determined and motivated to make a change in the next 30 days.

They understand the need to change and have begun a slow journey to make that change happen.

They are actively involved in the process and are experimenting with what could work.

They are thoroughly investigating and gathering resources to help them make that change successful.

Strategies to help: Make a vision board. Lay out an action plan. Find ways to maintain motivation.
Step 4: Action The change required has been made (within the past 6 months).

They are taking the steps they need based on the information and resources they have gathered.

At this stage the risk of relapse is very high, and any failure can lead to regression to previous stages.

Strategies to help: Crucial time to seek social support that can keep them in check. Minimize failures and reward successful attempts. Keep the benefits of the behavior change in mind.
Step 5: Maintenance They have successfully maintained the behavior change (in the past 6 months).

Making efforts to keep up with the behavior change and avoiding falling into former bad habits.

They are fully convinced the new behavior change was the right choice and must be maintained.

They are actively avoiding any triggers or temptations that may push them into their former unhealthy behavior patterns.

Strategies to help: Gather and review coping strategies to prevent relapse. Continue to reward successes and minimize failures.  Identify triggers and barriers and steps to overcome them
Step 6: Termination The required change has been made successfully. There is no intention to return to old behavior patterns.