Interpersonal Violence Prevention & Education
Understanding the dynamics of violence
Sexual violence is a spectrum of situations where someone forces or manipulates someone else into unwanted sexual activity without their consent. Reasons someone might not consent include fear, age, illness, ability, and / or influence of alcohol or other drugs.
- 90% of the time, the person who harms another person is known to that person – often a friend or former friend or roommate, dating partner or ex, or acquaintance.
- About 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men report experiencing some sort of contact sexual violence at some point in their lifetime.
- Many people (24%-41%) who experienced sexual violence, said that the first incident happened before they turned 18.
Domestic or intimate partner violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors – including physical, sexual, and psychological attacks as well as economic coercion – that adults and adolescents use against an intimate partner.
- More than 27% of women and 11% of men in the U.S. have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and / or stalking by an intimate partner.
- 21% of college students reported having experienced abuse by a current partner and more than half of those students experienced abusive relationships while in college.
Stalking is a pattern or set of behaviors directed at a specific person with the intent of making them feel afraid, intimidated, or generally unsafe. Stalking is serious, often violent, and can escalate over time.
- 1 in 6 women and 1 in 19 men report experiencing stalking at some point during their lifetime.
- Over 85% of stalking victims are stalked by someone they know.
Learn more about how Temple University defines Sexual Misconduct and violence on campus.
Looking to report sexual misconduct? Click here
Have you experienced violence at some point and want to talk with someone? There are confidential resources on campus and in the community.
Smith, S.G., Chen, J., Basile, K.C., Gilbert, L.K., Merrick, M.T., Patel, N., Walling, M., & Jain, A. (2017). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010-2012 State Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Peugh, J. & Glauber, A. (2011). 2011 College Dating Violence and Abuse Poll: Prepared for Liz Claiborne, Inc. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from https://www.breakthecycle.org/dating-violence-research/college-dating-violence-and-abuse-poll