Understanding Sexual Assault Perpetrator Behavior

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1 Understanding Sexual Assault Perpetrator Behavior Washington State Higher Education Conference Sexual Assault Prevention and Response October 30, 2014 University of Washington Alan Berkowitz

2 Perpetrator Typologies 20-40% of men who have engaged in coercive behavior, including: Initiators Desistors Continuers Approximately 5% of men are serial perpetrators of Actual Completed Rapes

3 Men Who Are Serial Perpetrators Approximately 3-5% of men commit over 95% of the assaults In a study of serial rapists, 76 men committed 439 rapes and attempted rapes These men also committed 49 sexual assaults, 66 acts of physical abuse of children, 277 acts of sexual abuse of children, and 214 acts of batters (a total 1,045 offenses or approx. 14 offenses each) In addition, 44 other men were classified as single act rapists accounting for an additional 44 rapes Sexual predators seek out vulnerable women who are likely to be less credible as witnesses

4 Strategies of Sexual Predators Stalking vulnerability: scouting for a target Grooming of victim Intentionally increases victim s vulnerability Isolation of victim Cognitive distortions

5 Research on Undetected Rapists Do not use a weapon Alcohol as the primary weapon Use of instrumental, not gratuitous violence Have access to consensual sex Have a personal strategy use of alcohol, force, etc) (i.e.

6 Research on Undetected Rapists cont d Engage in hyper-masculine behavior From all racial and ethnic groups and sexual orientations Are not mentally ill and may be highly respected and competent Misperceive or overestimate other men s attitudes and behaviors about gender, sex and sexuality Tend to brag to other men about their exploits

7 What do we know from the social norms research? People who are prone to harassment, sexual assault, and domestic violence are more likely to engage in these behaviors when they perceive them to be supported by their peer groups and community.

8 False Consensus misperceptions held by perpetrators serve to rationalize their behavior Perpetrators of domestic violence dramatically overestimate the prevalence in the general population of abusive behaviors towards spouses Perception of bullying behavior is highly predictive of personal bulling behavior Men who endorse rape myths are more likely to act on them when they misperceive them as normative

9 Sanctioning Perpetrators Campus hearing boards are often naïve and unprepared to assess perpetrators of sexual assault Victim safety and healing is paramount Perpetrators are not a homogeneous group It may be appropriate to apply differential sanctions to different types of perpetrators

10 Considerations for Sanctioning Perpetrators Facilitating the healing of victims and ensuring their future safety Protecting the safety of the community Holding perpetrators accountable Considerations of victim-harm and victim impact An educational sanction is not a sanction

11 Potential Sanctions Warning Probation Loss of privileges Fines and/or restitution Discretionary sanctions Residence hall suspension Suspension or Expulsion Revocation or withholding of degree

12 Issues to Consider Degree of premeditation If force is used Victim-blaming and non-acceptance of responsibility The extent to which perpetrator claims of fact are corroborated and perpetrator changes story Victim protections and comfort with the outcome Previous problem incidents

13 Recommendations Vigorous training of hearing boards Differential sanctions Careful monitoring of sanctions and follow through Consideration of previous behavior Create synergy between prevention, risk-reduction and intervention Selective use of restorative justice

14 Thank you for your willingness to lead by expressing values in action

15 Contact Information Alan Berkowitz Independent Consultant Mount Shasta, CA

16 Alcohol & Sexual Assault Perpetration Kelly Cue Davis, Ph.D. University of Washington October 2014

17 Alcohol & Sexual Assault v Approximately half of sexual assaults involve alcohol consumption v Study estimates range from 40% to 75% v Alcohol consumption by v The victim v The perpetrator v Most commonly both v Alcohol has complex effects on both the victims and the perpetrators Abbey et al., 2014

18 Alcohol- involved Assaults Compared to sober assaults v More likely to involve a casual acquaintance v Less likely to be planned v More likely to involve time spent at a party or bar v Less likely to involve condom use Greater intoxication associated with v More isolating and controlling behaviors v Greater misperception of victim s sexual interest v Greater aggression during the assault Abbey et al., 2003; Ullman et al., 1999; Davis et al., 2012; Parkhill et al., 2009

19 Perpetrators & Drinking Compared to non- perpetrators v Consume more alcohol during sexual assault than non- perpetrators in a comparison consensual incident Compared to sober perpetrators v Consume more alcohol generally and in sexual situations v Stronger beliefs about alcohol s effects on their sex drive and women s interest in having sex v Greater trait impulsivity Abbey et al., 2001; Zawacki et al., 2003

20 Drinking Perpetrators Heterogeneity among perpetrators v v v v Most perpetrators report commizing multiple assaults 20-48% never consume alcohol during assaults 27-48% always consume alcohol during assaults ~25% inconsistently consume alcohol during assaults Heterogeneity in consumption v v v v Average # standard drinks consumed = 8 Range of # drinks = 3-26 Average ebac =.07% Range of ebacs =.01% -.26% Lisak & Miller, 2002; Davis et al., 2008, in press; Parkhill et al., 2008

21 Heterogeneity of Effects v Alcohol works in conjunction with other individual risk factors v Stronger alcohol effects with men who have v Greater tendencies to misperceive women s sexual interest v Stronger misogynistic azitudes v Lower mindfulness v Stronger acceptance of violence v Stronger beliefs that alcohol makes them aggressive v Possible mechanisms v Pharmacological: cognitive impairment v Psychological: beliefs about alcohol s effects Abbey et al., 2009; Gallagher et al., 2010; Noel et al., 2009; Davis, 2010

22 Alcohol as a Tactic v Victim incapacitation is a commonly used tactic v Typically voluntary consumption v Perpetrators who use this tactic have v Greater hostility towards women v Less empathy v Greater drinking problems v Stronger beliefs that women are more vulnerable to sexual coercion when drinking Kilpatrick et al., 2007; Abbey et al., 2011; Davis et al., in press

23 Summary v About half of sexual assaults involve alcohol Alcohol is an important risk factor v Alcohol is not the only risk factor v v Alcohol s role in sexual assault Varies between and within perpetrators v Varies with the amount of alcohol consumed v v Policies and interventions must consider these nuances Images from 7000insolidarity.org

24 Thank you!

25 Luca E. Lewis, Ph.D. Dean for Student Success and Retention Edmonds Community College

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27 What do they say the campus rapist looks like?

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32 Empowerment and Powerful Moments This is Not a Sporting Event Re-Focus Attention Creating Cognitive Dissonance

33 Environment Attributes Perpetrator Typology and Behaviors Empowered Bystanders