The misperception that keeps bystanders from intervening and how to short‑circuit it
Summary
Many men wrongly think that other men accept sexual violence, even when most do not. This false belief stops bystanders from stepping in to prevent sexual assaults, even when they witness them.Key Facts
- About 6.5% of male college students in the US and Canada have committed rape.
- In roughly one-third of sexual assaults, other people are nearby but often do not intervene.
- Many men believe their peers support harmful ideas about sexual violence more than they actually do.
- Fear of being laughed at or seen as weak stops men from speaking out or intervening.
- Men who commit sexual assault often overestimate how much others accept this behavior.
- This false sense of acceptance creates a cycle where sexual violence seems more common and accepted than it really is.
- Changing the mistaken belief about what others think may help more men act against sexual violence.
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