Sexual assault expert outlines rape warning signs

A year-long course by a psychology professor, which teaches physical and emotional skills to combat sexual assault, has reduced rape rates on campus by almost half.

One in four British students has suffered unwanted sexual advances on campus, a recent NUS study found.

Prof Charlene Y. Senn spent 10 years working with a team of psychologists at the University of Windsor to create an educational programme to help women defend themselves against sexual assault.

Aimed at first year female students – those who are most likely to be subjected to assault - Senn's course has successfully reduced the rates of rape on campus at the university by 46 per cent by encouraging women to take action sooner when they find themselves in uncomfortable situations.

The Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, Act (EAAA) Sexual Assault Resistance program provides women with physical and emotional skills to combat sexual assault through a series of physical and psychological lessons.

In developing the program, Senn identified a series of warning signs that may act as cues to sexual assault, or "pre-rape" indicators.

Coined by Patricia Rozee and Mary Koss in a 2001 study, "pre-rape" refers to categories of behaviour that have been scientifically linked to male perpetrators.

“Sexual violence researchers view sexual assault as one point on a continuum of behaviours in society that is supported by other less obviously problematic but more common attitudes and behaviours,” Senn told The Independent.

There are obviously no guarantees that all sexual perpetrators will behave in a "one size fits all" kind of way, as Senn insists that the issue is far more nuanced than research can explain.

However, she added, certain tropes could be deemed as warning signs that a man may pose a threat to the women around him.

The issue with spotting these, she adds, is that they are unnervingly common, to the extent whereby many are easily reframed in society as “jokes.”

Because of this, it can be all too easy for assault victims to doubt their judgement.

This becomes even more problematic when you consider that 80 per cent of rape victims know their attackers. Thus, a victim is more likely to downplay these warning signs if the perpetrator in question is a close friend, colleague or trusted family member.

Here are some of the things she identified as examples of "pre-rape" cues.

When someone behaves in a way that shows they want to exert some form of power over you, it can be a red flag.

“A specific behaviour of this type would be making comments that sexualise situations or relationships that were not otherwise sexual,” explains Senn.

Touching a woman without her consent might seem like an obvious assault warning sign, however, it doesn’t necessarily have to be sexualised touching in order for it to be deemed as desired entitlement.

This is particularly prevalent when you consider that psychologists frequently categorise rapes as either power rapes or anger rapes – sexuality is seldom the sole motivator, as a 1977 study found.

Again, this warning sign applies even in non-sexual circumstances and could transpire in a number of social and environmental ways.

Senn explains the cue as follows:

“A man who insists on getting his own way despite knowing that it is not what the person with him wants.”

Just as it's important to consider behaviour when it comes to "pre-rape" warning signs, environment and circumstance are also key factors.

Usually, the greatest risk of sexual assault occurs when behavioural and situational cues collide, she explained.

A typical situational cue is that of isolation i.e. a man whom one already deems as potentially at risk of sexual perpetration has taken extra measures to ensure that he is completely alone with a woman.