Dangerous Contexts

Dangerous Contexts

In the Art of Warfare, Chinese tactician, Sun Tzu, extensively discusses the importance of understanding the terrain in the waging of war. In fact, along with understanding the strengths and weaknesses of one’s enemy, understanding one’s own strengths and weakness, employing the most effective strategy against one’s opponent is often contingent upon understanding the lay of the land and the best times and conditions for engaging the enemy. While Sun Tzu’s treatise applies the warfare between armies, many of its principles apply to the art of self-defense. Once you have a grasp of your own abilities and dispositions, once you understand your opponent, you may then apply your knowledge in a context that you may use to your advantage.
If we examine the variables associated with crime in general and violent crime more specifically, we realize that there are some variables we cannot control. These variables may be the offender’s motives, our own particular body type and personality, and the certain conditions of the crime context. When an offender’s inclination toward criminal behavior coalesces with the specifics of the context along with the target’s personal traits and behaviors, then this mix results in vulnerability. We may define vulnerability as those personal traits and conditions along with contextual circumstances that present an ideal opportunity for an attacker to strike while preventing the victim's ability to front effective resistance and/or avoiding external interference. While vulnerability may be partially the effect of physical or psychological traits, we can see it as the effect of environmental and social circumstances. Harding and Nelson (1985) indicating the findings of other researchers, state what would seem an obvious fact about rape: “Men rape women who are accessible to them….” To reduce vulnerability, the prudent individual should develop an awareness of the context variables (refer to the below table), which consist of the time, place, and conditions in which attacks most likely occur. Such awareness serves as an important first line component for rape prevention and avoidance. Since location plays such an important part in the likelihood of a rape occurring, we should also remember that sexual violence may happen anywhere. Few locations are absolutely safe all of the time. "Places of assault have ranged from the victim's own home to public parks, cemeteries, beaches, shopping malls, public restrooms, churches, side streets, and alleyways. There is not a place, season, or time of day in which a rape has never occurred…"(Groth 1979). As we will see, individuals often may the mistake of assuming, with good reason nonetheless, that nothing bad will happen to them in their home or at a party.

Context Variables

Name Description Measures to Facilitate Avoidance

Steady-state changing
(Chronological Context) Assault can happen at any time; however, the hours between 6 PM and 6 AM seem most conducive to assault.
In terms of seasons, sexual assault seems to more frequently occur during the warm time of the year, mostly spring, summer, and early fall. Winter months tend to have statistically fewer numbers reported.
Remain congnizant of the time and day. Make plans accordingly. For example, If you anticipate staying late for work, plan on security escorting you to your car or park under a street light.

Non-constant controlled variables (Environmental Context) In terms of date rape, women often find themselves in danger when they are in a date’s car or residence. Other acquaintance rapes often happen in locations where the where she previously felt safe. A significant number of stranger rapes happen in the victim’s home as a result of the offender gaining access during the night. By modifying one's surroundings to make them less conducive to an assault, by avoiding potentially dangerous locals, and by staying alert to changes in one's environment, one may exercise a degree of control over this variable.

Choice variable This is a variable that may/not become a factor based upon an individual's decisions. In such a case the individual may/not choose to attend a party or gathering, may/not choose to drink alcoholic beverages, may /not refuse a drink offered or bought by another. The decision to go on a date or go to a bar may also be classified into this category.

Inconstant variable A variable may or may not happen along is the ability to garner external interference from a third party. This can include the ability to solicit a stranger's, a neighbor's, or a friend's assistance; or it can include the ability to call 911 or to receive police assistance. Environmental distractions may also facilitate avoidance. Understand social proofs, pluralistic ignorance, and diminished responsibilty may prevent others from assisting. Know how to respond when others are not responsive.
Take advantage of an environmental distraction such as a loud noise or a sudden flash of headlights to make good an escape.

Name	Description	Measures to Facilitate Avoidance
Steady-state changing (Chronological Context)	Assault can happen at any time; however, the hours between 6 PM and 6 AM seem most conducive to assault. In terms of seasons, sexual assault seems to more frequently occur during the warm time of the year, mostly spring, summer, and early fall. Winter months tend to have statistically fewer numbers reported.	Remain congnizant of the time and day. Make plans accordingly. For example, If you anticipate staying late for work, plan on security escorting you to your car or park under a street light.
Non-constant controlled variables	(Environmental Context) In terms of date rape, women often find themselves in danger when they are in a date’s car or residence. Other acquaintance rapes often happen in locations where the where she previously felt safe. A significant number of stranger rapes happen in the victim’s home as a result of the offender gaining access during the night.	By modifying one's surroundings to make them less conducive to an assault, by avoiding potentially dangerous locals, and by staying alert to changes in one's environment, one may exercise a degree of control over this variable.
Choice variable	This is a variable that may/not become a factor based upon an individual's decisions.	In such a case the individual may/not choose to attend a party or gathering, may/not choose to drink alcoholic beverages, may /not refuse a drink offered or bought by another. The decision to go on a date or go to a bar may also be classified into this category.
Inconstant variable	A variable may or may not happen along is the ability to garner external interference from a third party. This can include the ability to solicit a stranger's, a neighbor's, or a friend's assistance; or it can include the ability to call 911 or to receive police assistance. Environmental distractions may also facilitate avoidance.	Understand social proofs, pluralistic ignorance, and diminished responsibilty may prevent others from assisting. Know how to respond when others are not responsive. Take advantage of an environmental distraction such as a loud noise or a sudden flash of headlights to make good an escape.