Understanding Bystander Intervention and Victim Impact
This content provides a comprehensive guide on bystander intervention, highlighting the internal stages and effective strategies for bystanders to intervene in potentially harmful situations. It also explores the impact on victims of sexual assault, focusing on themes like control, self-blame, trust, and safety. Understanding these aspects is crucial for creating a supportive environment for survivors and fostering a culture of accountability and intervention.
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Presentation Transcript
SAPR QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE 2/C PCA
Objectives Define bystander intervention Understand how to effectively intervene as a bystander Understand victim impact and the decisions a survivor must face after a sexual assault Be able to recognize behaviors a survivor may exhibit due to the aftermath of the sexual assault
Bystander Intervention An individual or group of individuals (bystanders) witness a situation between other people developing that could turn into something bad or dangerous, and the bystanders choose to act to stop it from escalating any further (intervention) Internal Stages of Bystander Intervention Notice the event Interpret the event as a problem Determine whether or not you are responsible for dealing with the problem Determine whether or not you have the skills and resources to act Act
Effective Bystander Intervention Make the decision to intervene and, most importantly, do it even if it means you re the first to point out that there is a problem Possible Strategies Group Intervention Gather a group to help you We re friends, right? If it is your friend, talk to him/her privately and appeal to your relationship Clarification Simply asking if what is developing is consensual could help stop something bad from happening Bring it home Humanize the people involved by comparing them to family members Humor Reduce the tension as you intervene Distraction Interrupting a situation can give you the time to separate the people involved and get them to safer places Delegate Ask the person s friend to help instead, if you are uncomfortable when someone you don t know is involved
Understanding Victim Impact 4 Themes of Victim Impact Control Your body is supposed to be your own. After a sexual assault a survivor is stuck with making decisions about what he or she should do and none of the options feel good. Self-Blame We know that military sexual assault survivors are inclined to take on more responsibility and self-blame because of our characteristics and training. These very beliefs can actually be obstacles in seeking help and healing. Typically, it takes a long time for a survivor to forgive him or herself. A lot depends on the social situation and culture around the survivor. Trust Military members are supposed to rely on each other to achieve the mission and sometimes, to protect their lives. When that trust is betrayed through sexual assault by a military member or someone else they trust, a survivor s ability to trust often suffers. Safety Not only was their body violated in a circumstance where they likely had felt safe, but a person whom they trusted betrayed them. Survivors that do not feel safe anymore, could start avoiding social situations, fearing situations where they are alone and isolated, not wanting to leave their berthing area, skipping work obligations, etc.
Understanding Victim Impact, pt. 2 A victim of sexual assault must face many decisions after the already traumatic incident Seeking medical treatment To report or not to report To seek help from law enforcement by choosing an unrestricted report or to make a restricted report and not involve the police Seeking mental health treatment Who to confide in about the assault Factors that impact these decisions: Trust in the system Fear of social retaliation Rumors that circulate about survivor Knowing the perpetrator as a friend/family/unit member
Understanding our role in Survivor Support What we do and say on a daily basis can help or hurt a survivor. We need to understand these issues in order to put our own personal feelings aside and respond appropriately to those affected. When we understand how survivors are affected, we can better empathize to identify challenges they may encounter while at the Academy and serving in the Fleet. When we understand how survivors are affected, we can better understand how our leadership decisions impact them and affect the climate in which they serve.
