Personal Safety and Self Defense for children, teens and adults.
Research: abduction, child abuse, domestic violence.
RESEARCH
Research supports children learning in an interactive and hands-on way, with a success-based and comprehensive approach.A study on kindergarten children where half learned skills through practice and role-plays and the others watched the experimenters role play the material themselves. Therefore, the only difference was the children practicing themselves. Results showed that children who practiced themselves were more effective at learning the skills [1] Success-based learning is helpful in creating a supportive, caring and productive learning environment.[2]
Why it is so Important to Focus on Prevention of Abuse:
Prevention is the most cost-effective approach in terms of money and humanity, for dealing with child victimization.[3]
Why Teaching Even Simple Skills Can Stop Most Assaults:
A 1985 study found women even untrained in physical self-defense terminate about half of the attempted assaults if they resist verbally and scream for help. [4][1] Wurtele, S. K., et al.,(1987) Practice makes Perfect? The role of participant modeling in sexual abuse prevention programs. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, v 55 (4) 599-602.[2] (Bandura, A. (1997). Self-Efficacy: The exercise of control. New York, NY: Freeman and Company)[3] (Moody, E.E. (1994). Current trends in childhood sexual abuse prevention programs. Elementary School Guidance and Counseling, 28 (4), 251-256)[4] (Quinsey, V.L., & Upfold, D. (1985). Rape completion and victim injury as a function of female resistance strategy. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 17, 40-50)
CHILD ABUSE
The statistics on child abuse can be extremely overwhelming.
Many researchers and child welfare agencies estimate that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 4 boys with be sexually abused before they are 18 years old [1]
70-90% of victims of sexual abuse know their abusers. 30-50% of abuse to girls is by family members and 10-20% of boys is by family members. [2]
Victimization rates are inversely proportional to the age of the child--the older the child, the less likely he or she is to be maltreated.[3]
In 2002, an estimated 1,400 children died due to child abuse or neglect.[4]
Five percent of child molesters released from prison commit a new sex offense within three years of their release.[5]
76% of serial rapists and more than 40% of other sexual offenders report being sexually abused as a child.[6]
In a recent survey 31% of girls 8-12 years old reported being afraid of being kidnapped.[7]
Since children are most likely to report victimization to a parent, parents could play an important role in the process of self-protection.[8]
[1](Russell, D.H. (1988). The incidence and prevalence of intrafamilial and extrafamilial sexual abuse of female children. In L. E. A. Walker (Ed.), *Handbook on Sexual Abuse of Children*. Springer Publishing Company.
[2] (The Future of Children. Sexual Abuse of Children, vol.4, summer/fall, 1994).
[3] Children's Bureau. (2004). Child Maltreatment. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Online: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/cm02.
[4] Children's Bureau. (2004). Child Maltreatment. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Online: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/cm02.
[5] (Langan et al. (2003). Recidivism of Sex Offenders Released from Prison in 1994. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice. Online: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/rsorp94.pdf.
[6] (American Medical Association, 1998).
[7] Feeling Safe: What Girls Say. October 2003. Study conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Girl Scouts of the USA (number of students surveyed: 2,279)
[8] (Kuther, T.L. & Fisher, C.B. (1998). Victimization by community violence in young adolescents from a suburban city. Journal of Early Adolescence,18, 53-76)
ABDUCTION
There are over 100,000 attempted non-family member abductions a year. Reports estimate 3,200-4,600 successful abductions (200-300 of these abductions are from complete strangers). The rest are known, however slightly, to the family or child. For example, a person who is in the neighborhood, acquaintances, or a member of a school, religious organization, youth group, etc.
Approximately 50% of children abducted by non-family members are murdered and 74% of these children are dead within three hours (which stresses the extreme importance of quick police action on missing children’s cases).
80% of the victims had the initial contact with the attacker within 1/4 of a mile from the victim’s house (including the victim’s own home). [1]
[1](American Prosecutors Research Institute, 1999).
PERSONAL SAFETY FOR TEENS
Teens can be at high risk for violence due to their increased independence in the world.
The American Psychological Association’s Commission on Violence and Youth (1993) estimates that adolescents are nearly three times as likely to be victimized by violent crime than by people older than 20 years of age. [1]
Both male and female adolescents who are victimized are most likely to know their offender. The offender could be a friend, parent, other family member or relative, or an acquaintance. [2]
Rates of violent victimization for adolescents are higher for school days, with a peak at 3 p.m., than non-school days.[3]
Adolescents rank the media just behind peers and parents as sources of information and influence on attitudes and behaviors, including sexuality. [4]
Adolescents report that learning how to deal with bullies is the most influential program component. [5]
In a recent survey 34% of teen girls report being afraid of being forced to do something sexually. 35% report being afraid of being attacked with a weapon. [6]
[1] (American Psychological Association. (1993). Violence and Youth: Psychology’s Response (Summary report of the American Psychological Association Commission on Violence and Youth). Washington, DC: Author).
[2] (Snyder, H.N. & Sickmund, M. (1999). Juvenile offenders and victims:1999 national report. Washington, DC: National Center for Juvenile Justice)
[3] (Snyder, H.N. & Sickmund, M. (1999). Juvenile offenders and victims:1999 national report. Washington, DC: National Center for Juvenile Justice)
[4] (Moore, S. & Rosenthal, D.(1993). Sexuality in Adolescence. New York: Routledge. Moore, S. & Rosenthal, D. (1993). Venturesomeness, impulsiveness, and risky behavior among older adolescents. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 76, 98. ; Strasburger, V. (1995). Adolescents and the media: Medical and psychological impact. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; Thompson, S. (1995). Going all the way: Teenage girls’ tales of sex, romance and pregnancy.New York: Hill and Wang)
[5] (Finkelhor, D., & Dziuuba-Leatherman, J. (1995). Victimization prevention programs: A national survey of children’s exposure and reactions. Child Abuse and Neglect, 191, 129-139)
[6] Feeling Safe: What Girls Say. October 2003. Study conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Girl Scouts of the USA (number of students surveyed: 2,279)
BULLYING
Bullying is a huge problem in the United States as well as through out the world. A national study of 15,000 schools found that 29.9% percent of students are involved in bullying either as a bully (13.0%), a victim (10.6%) or both a bully and a victim (6.3%) [1]
It is reported that one third of middle school students feel unsafe at school because of bullying and do not report such behaviors to school personnel because they are scared, lack the necessary skills for reporting, and feel teachers and administrators do nothing to stop the bullying.[2]
81% of middle school students reported engaging in at least one act of bullying in the last 30 days and 8% reported frequently engaging in acts of bullying behavior in the last 30 days [3]
Boys bully more than girls and no relationships have been found between bullying behavior and grade, ethnicity and family type.[3]
Boys are more likely to use physical bullying and threats and girls use social and verbal means including spreading rumors about other students and excluding them from peer groups.[4]
According to the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) and Counseling and Student Services (CSS), as many as 160,000 children skip school each day because of intimidation by their peers.[5]
Bullying can be surrounded by fear and secrecy so it can unknown to parents, teachers and other adults around the child.[6]
[1](Nansel, Overpeck, Pilla, Ruan, Simons-Morton, & Scheidt, 2001) A 2001 study funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
[2] (Batsche, G.M. & Knoff, H.M. (1994). Bullies and their victims: Understanding a pervasive problem in the schools. School Psychology Review, 23, 165-174; Hazler, R..J., Hoover, J.H., & Oliver, R. (1993). What do kids say about bullying? Education Digest, 58, 16-20; Slee, P.T. (1994). Situational and interpersonal correlates of anxiety associated with peer victimization. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 25, 97-107)
[3] (Bosworth, K., Espelage, D.L., Simon, T.R. (1999). Factors associated with bullying behavior in middle school students. Journal of Early Adolescence, 19, 341-362; Sharp, S., & Smith, P.K. (1991). Bullying in UK schools: The DES Sheffield Bullying Project. Early Childhood Development and Care, 77, 47-55)
[4] (Boulton, M.J. & Underwood, K. (1992). Bully/victim problems among middle school children. British Journal of Educational Psychology,62, 73-87; Sharp, S., & Smith, P.K. (1991). Bullying in UK schools: The DES Sheffield Bullying Project. Early Childhood Development and Care, 77, 47-55)
[5] (Coy, 2001)
[6] (Whitney, I., & Smith, P.K. (1993). A survey of the nature and extent of bullying in junior/middle and secondary schools. Educational Research, 35, 3-25)
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
One woman is battered every 15 seconds and 1.8 million women are severely assaulted each year by a male partner.
1 in every 8 women will be a victim of forcible rape in their lifetime.
8.2 million women will be stalked during their lifetime.[1]
[1] (National Victims Center, NCVC.org)
VIOLENCE AGAINST MEN
3% of men report surviving rape or attempted rape as a child or adult.
It is estimated that 1 out of 10 acts of rape or attempted rape are committed against a man. Most sexual aggression against men or boys is committed by a man they know. Though more reliable statistics are hard to come by, these almost certainly under-estimate the true incidence and prevalence of assaults against men and boys. [1]
[1] (National Violence Against Women Survey, 2000).
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
People with disabilities are at extremely high risk for sexual and physical assault.
People with developmental disabilities are particularly vulnerable to violence, abuse and exploitation, experiencing violent crimes at a rate of 4 to 12 times higher than people without disabilities. They have a victimization rate 10.7 times higher than the non-disabled control group for sexual assault; 12.8 times higher for robbery, and an overall rate 4.2 times higher for all major crimes. People with developmental disabilities are often repeatedly assaulted -- 83% of women with developmental disabilities are sexually assaulted in their lifetime and of those nearly 50% are re-victimized 10 or more times. [1]
[1]Hard, S. (1986). Sexual abuse of the developmentally disabled: A case study. Paper presented at the national conference of Executives of Associations for Retarded Citizens, Omaha, NE. Sobsey, D. & Doe, T. (1991). Patterns of sexual abuse and assault. Journal of Sexuality and Disability, 9(3),243-259.
