\documentstyle{article} % % Redefine some things for descriptions % % \DesSize{longtext} should be executed before each description. It sets % the item indentation to suit the longest element's size. % \newlength{\DesWidthMin} % Default minimum item indentation \newlength{\DesWidthMax} % Default maximum item indentation \setlength{\DesWidthMin}{\descriptionmargin} % Set minimum item indent \setlength{\DesWidthMax}{.25\linewidth} % Set maximum item indent \newcommand{\DesSize}[1]{\settowidth{\descriptionmargin}{{#1~~}} \ifdim \descriptionmargin >\DesWidthMax \setlength{\descriptionmargin}{\DesWidthMax} \fi \ifdim \descriptionmargin <\DesWidthMin \setlength{\descriptionmargin}{\DesWidthMin} \fi } \renewcommand{\descriptionlabel}[1]{#1\hfill} \renewcommand{\section}[1]{ \begin{center} \large \underline{#1} \par \end{center} } \begin{document} \vskip 20pt % To adjust centering. \begin{center} {\Large Women's Self-Defense Training: \\ Effects Upon Behaviors and Efficacy Expectancies \par} % Set title in \huge size. \vskip 3em % Vertical space after title. {\large D. R. Smith \par } \end{center} \vskip 5em \section{Introduction} Rape impacts all women: raped women and women fearful of rape. Woomen adapt many strategies for coping with the threat of rape and recovering from past rapes. Women adopt many strategies for coping with the threat of rape and recovering from past rapes. Some restrict their activities, some deny their fears, some attempt to gain a degree of control over the threat. Acquiring self-defense skills against sexual assault is one method for developing some control. This study evaluated one self-defense training program. The question organizing the study was how such training affected women's behaviors, fears, and strategies for resisting assault. Attention to women's behaviors does not imply that the victims are responsible for, nor always able to prevent rape. Self-defense training remains just one aspect of rape prevention policy and one way for women to gain some sense of control over this threat. As long as men continue to rape, such control can never be complete. Self-defense training doesn't prescribe how to react in an assault situation: it only gives the woman a larger repitorie of options. Only the woman under attack can evaluate the situation and respond accordingly. Self-defense training, by showing a wider range of alternatives, and offering an opportunity to practice in, and gain confidence with, these alternatives, provides women with skills that may allow them to exercise control over a threating situation. Until recently, little was known about women's behavior during rape.Instead, most energy was put into studies of male rapists and women's post-assault reactions. Three recent research projects (Bart, 1981; McIntyre, 1980; Queen's Bench Foundation, 1976) have sought out and interviewed women who were sexually assaulted in order to understand how these women had responded during their attacks. Of special interest were \begin{itemize} \item variables that correlated with attempted completed rapes. \item how effective was the woman's resistance. \end{itemize} Though each study had methodological weaknesses, their findings were relatively consistent across all three: \begin{itemize} \item Women have successfully avoided rape. \item Assertive resistances correlated with rape deterrance. \end[itemize} While fighting, screaming, running, speaking assertively did not always prevent rape, such assertive behaviors correlated with a lower likelihood that the assault would be completed. These studies also noted a positive relationship between assertive resistance and injury (though docility provided no guarantee against injury and lack of assertive resistances also correlated with greater sexual abuse beyond the abuse of rape itself. Though there were no absolutes or rules across situations, \marginpar{unclear} the willingness to resist aggressively, as well as possibly risk injury, were related to rape deterrence. This study evaluated one self-defense training program. Women take training to learn to protect themselves, and effective training should teach participants those attitudes and skills that the research record has shown to correlate positively with assault deterrence. First, women could decrease their likelihood of assault by observing safety precautions and practicing vigilant behavior. Second, Women could develop the ability and willingness to react assertively when assaulted. Measurement of likelihood of assault was achieved through self-reports of a range of precautionary behaviors, both in the community and in the home (adapted from a questionnaire by Riger, Gordon, and LeBailly, 1982). Of interest were women's perceptions of both their avoidance (limiting exposure to high-risk situations) and their vigilance (acting to manage risks when encountered). Women's willingness to aggressively respond to an assailant was more difficult to operationalize. An original measure was developed based on Bandura's (1982) self-efficacy theory. The index assessed, across three assault situations, woman's self-reported outcome expectencies (beliefs that certain behaviors would lead to assault deterrence) and self-efficacy expectancies (beliefs that an individual could successfully perform such behaviors in assault situations). Factor analysis of this measure yielded tow main types of resistance strategies: \DesSize{``assertive behavior''} \begin{descripton} \item[``assertive behavior''] \end{document}