NCJ Number
224164
Journal
Aggression and Violent Behavior: A Review Journal Volume: 13 Issue: 4 Dated: August-September 2008 Pages: 261-275
Date Published
August 2008
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This paper reviews issues concerning the prevention of sexual victimization.
Abstract
The results indicate that although research has provided many insights into the basic principles of the prevention of sexual victimization, much remains to be explored. It is noted that the field of sexual victimization prevention has been greatly shaped by societal movements of the past 40 years, and that the social forces that have driven the study of sexual victimization have led to major research gaps which may be viewed as opportunities for new focuses. This paper seeks to review certain social movements in light of the opportunities that have arisen; re-evaluate the information that has been collected in light of the research purpose, preventing harm to potential victims through providing tailored prevention messages, victim sensitive avenues of reporting, and individualized intervention tactics based on personality characteristics; and provide a framework with which to conceptualize normative personality in relation to the process of victimization-related trauma. Background is provided to give context to the development of sexual victimization prevention from a historical perspective, examining the history of victimization movements from the 1970s onward. Other areas discussed are risk and prevention; personality and sexual victimization, to include an integrative model; and numerous ideas for future directions to be considered in refining the research conducted in this field of study. Figure, tables, and references