Psychology

Differential gender responses to an empathy component of a sexual assault prevention program

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Although sexual assault (SA) prevention programs on college campuses are increasingly prevalent, no studies explore the influence of program components on outcomes. Empathy exercises are frequently included in such programs, with the intent of changing participant emotions and attitudes in order to change subsequent behavior. This study evaluated whether the inclusion of an empathy exercise within a SA prevention program impacted participants’ emotions and attitudes, and subsequent helping behaviors in SA bystander situations. Three-hundred and seventy students (63% women) participated in an evaluation of a mandatory bystander intervention program; half the students received the program containing an empathy exercise and half received the program that did not. For women only, participation in the program with the empathy exercise led to more negative emotions and fewer attitudes condoning SA, the latter of which influenced greater prosocial bystander behaviors 6 months later.

Publication Title

Violence and Victims

Publication Date

2019

Volume

34

Issue

3

First Page

397

Last Page

413

ISSN

0886-6708

DOI

10.1891/0886-6708.VV-D-18-00046

Keywords

bystander intervention, empathy, prevention, sexual assault

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