Responses to Violecne

Resistance

In the realm of self-defense, there are no absolutes; however, the advantage of self-defense training is that it will familiarize the participant with the variables associated with violence and the best strategies for contending with violence. Again, there are no absolutes; instead, there are odds. And the odds are that the more tactics you have thought about and rehearsed, the more likely that you will successfully avoid a sexual assault. Most importantly, you should keep a clear mind and make a decision based upon what your gut feelings tell you to do. In some instances, the best possible course of action may be to do nothing or to capitulate to the attacker's demands. Still, the odds for successful resistance are surprisingly high.

Two black-belts from the
UW Madison Karate club
demonstrate a defensive strategy.

Women who resist an attacker using a number of forceful strategies often are successful (Zoucha-Jensen & Coyne 1993; Bart and O’Brien 1984, 1993; Ullman and Knight 1991, 1993; Ullman 1997; Levine-MaCombie and Koss 1986; Seigel et. al. 1989). However, when women do resist a rape attempt and are successful, they often avoid the rape yet incur a degree of physical injury. Ullman and Knight (1991) indicate that sometimes the woman sustains physical injury in the process of resisting the sexual assault; however, she avoids getting raped. This assertion is also indicated by Bart and O’Brien (1984, 1993) who state "…by fighting back a woman significantly increases her chances of rape avoidance and somewhat increases her chances of rough treatment." Those authors relate an anecdote in which a woman was punched in the eye when the rapist attempted to gain entry to her apartment. Once inside, the struggle continued; however, her screams alerted the neighbors, who called the police. The officers arrived soon enough to prevent the rape. The woman who successfully resists an assault suffers more injury; however, it appears that she suffers less psychological trauma. We can speculate that such an experience would make her more cautious, yet it would also make her more conscious of her own powers and ability to look out for herself.
Women should employ a number of strategies in an attempt to avoid a sexual assault. Generally speaking, women who stop rapes are more likely to flee, use force, yell and scream, employ environmental factors to their benefit, secure outside intervention, use the force in combination with some other physical technique, and realize the danger sooner. Ullman and Knight (1991) found that the women in their study "were likely to avoid severe sexual abuse without exacerbating the levels of physical injury they suffered by using the more forceful resistance strategies of fighting [22%], fleeing [49%], and screaming [41%] when attacked." Bart and O'Brien's (1984, 1993) findings suggest that women who employ three or more strategies in resisting an assault have a 75% chance of avoiding the assault. Additionally they indicate that flight or physical resistance is associated with the highest success rate of deterrence. Ullman and Knight (1991) recommend the following: "A conservative effective strategy…would be for the woman to scream and attempt to flee or push the offender away when verbally attacked and to initiate screaming and fighting when the offender physically attacked." Quinsey and Upfold (1985) and Siegel et. al. (1989) found that yelling and screaming may serve as effective resistance strategies. Quinsey and Upfold (1985) indicate that yelling and screaming were associated with both uncompleted rapes and no subsequent injury. Additionally, women who used force did so in response to either a verbal or physical threat; because of this fact, one may infer that an early awareness of and recognition of a danger might prove to be the most decisive component of any deterrence strategy. Ullman and Knight (1993) assert that to avoid rape, a woman’s resistance should be equal to the level of the offender’s attack.

Classification of Avoidance Tactics

Escape or Flight (running away)* Escaping to a location where the attacker's access to target may be blocked. Impeding the attacker's access by locking doors or windows. Impeding attacker’s access by placing an object between the target and offender. Driving away to escape an attacker.

Attracting Attention* Talking loudly. Yelling, screaming or shouting in an attempt to attract outside interference. Shouting “FIRE.” Utilizing a noise-making device such as a whistle.

Cognitive Non-verbal Non-compliance with the offender's demands. Moving away from the offender’s contact.

Affective Verbal Begging or pleading with the attacker. Crying in order to appeal to the attacker's sympathy.

Cognitive-rational Verbal * Reasoning with the offender. "Conning," tricking, or manipulating the attacker. Finding common ground with the attacker so that he empathizes with the target. Stalling for time.

Cognitive-aggressive Verbal* Using threats to intimidate the offender. Cursing or screaming at the offender.

Manipulation of External Intervention* Using a noise or a distraction to make good an escape or to cause the assailant to desist. Using someone who intrudes upon the scene in order to make good an escape or cause the attacker to desist.

Physically Combative* Pushing the assailant away. Using a self-defense or martial art tactic. Using a weapon. Biting, pummeling, punching, or kicking the attacker.

Those strategies indictated * are among the most effective strategies to employ.

Home

Escape or Flight (running away)*	Escaping to a location where the attacker's access to target may be blocked. Impeding the attacker's access by locking doors or windows. Impeding attacker’s access by placing an object between the target and offender. Driving away to escape an attacker.
Attracting Attention*	Talking loudly. Yelling, screaming or shouting in an attempt to attract outside interference. Shouting “FIRE.” Utilizing a noise-making device such as a whistle.
Cognitive Non-verbal	Non-compliance with the offender's demands. Moving away from the offender’s contact.
Affective Verbal	Begging or pleading with the attacker. Crying in order to appeal to the attacker's sympathy.
Cognitive-rational Verbal *	Reasoning with the offender. "Conning," tricking, or manipulating the attacker. Finding common ground with the attacker so that he empathizes with the target. Stalling for time.
Cognitive-aggressive Verbal*	Using threats to intimidate the offender. Cursing or screaming at the offender.
Manipulation of External Intervention*	Using a noise or a distraction to make good an escape or to cause the assailant to desist. Using someone who intrudes upon the scene in order to make good an escape or cause the attacker to desist.
Physically Combative*	Pushing the assailant away. Using a self-defense or martial art tactic. Using a weapon. Biting, pummeling, punching, or kicking the attacker.