Opportunities for Sexual Violence Prevention: Mitigating the Likelihood to Perpetrate

Sexual violence among adolescents and adults is a significant health and safety issue. Identifying and mitigating risk factors for sexual violence perpetration is central to preventing these acts before they occur. Substantial work has examined the risk for recidivism among known sexual offenders. To complement that work, this literature synthesis focuses on risk indicators among nonadjudicated and first-time adolescent and adult perpetrators. This synthesis is intended to support clinical practice by providing an overview of the magnitude, burden, and developmental course of sexual violence victimization and perpetration. Across rigorous studies, strong support suggests that adversity or abuse during childhood, perpetration during adolescence, fraternity membership, unhealthy peer norms, and peer approval for sexual violence during college-paired with impulsivity and/or a hostile view of women-are associated with a higher likelihood of sexual violence perpetration. Risk for perpetration can be offset by providing social support and parental monitoring and by increasing empathy during adolescence. In addition, variation in perpetration patterns over time exists, suggesting the need for developmentally focused prevention approaches.