Information | Office of Violence Prevention

Learn terms and definitions, how to help a friend, and the potential impact of experiencing a traumatic event.

定义

Understanding the basics of violence, how to help a friend and the impact you can make.

  • 性侵犯
    • Sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the survivor. Some forms of sexual assault include: rape, 强奸未遂, fondling or unwanted sexual touching and forcing a survivor to perform sexual acts, such as oral sex or penetrating the perpetrator’s body.
  • 跟踪
    • 跟踪 is when a person partakes in any repeated and unwanted contact directed at a specific individual that makes them feel uncomfortable or makes them fear for their safety or the safety of others.
  • 约会暴力
    • Dating violence is a pattern of assaultive and controlling behaviors that one person uses against another in order to gain or maintain power and control in the relationship. The abuser intentionally behaves in ways that cause fear, degradation and humiliation to control the other person. Forms of abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional and psychological.
  • 家庭暴力
    • Domestic violence occurs when a person uses physical aggression, 强迫, 威胁, 恐吓, 隔离, 跟踪, 情感虐待, sexual abuse or economic abuse to gain or maintain power and control over another person in a domestic or romantic relationship. 这包括, but is not limited to, any behaviors that intimidate, 操作, 羞辱, 隔离, 吓, 恐吓, 强迫, 威胁, 怪, 伤害, injure or wound someone. Domestic violence can be a single act or a pattern of behavior in relationships which could include individuals who are currently or formerly married or in a domestic partnership, currently or formerly dating, currently or formerly living together, currently or formerly in a caregiver relationship, have a child in common or are a family member.

How to Help a Friend

  • Do
    • 相信他们
    • 问他们需要什么
    • Encourage them to seek help
    • 提供资源
    • 继续支持
    • Take care of yourself
  • 不
    • Decide what is best for them or tell them what to do
    • Pass judgment or cast doubt
    • Ask victim-blaming questions (such as “你喝酒了吗?”?” or “What were you wearing?”)
  • 继续支持
    • 问他们需要什么. Empower the individual by exploring the options they feel most comfortable pursuing. 
    • If someone shares information with you-do not share publicly. 
    • Touching or hugging can be triggering for a survivor-always ask permission prior to doing so. 
    • Practice self-care activities with them
    • Privately check in with them from time to time.
    • Respect their wishes with how they choose to deal with their recovery
    • Check in with them 偶尔
    • Practice self-care activities with them
    • Educate yourself about sexual assault

的潜在影响

Survivors who have experienced a traumatic event may begin to experience emotional or physical reactions. The aftershocks may appear immediately, 或者几天之内, 周, 个月, or years after the traumatic event.

These symptoms may last a few days, 周, 个月,, 偶尔, 长, depending on the severity of the traumatic event. Being aware of these responses can help you know what to expect and help you support a survivor. Consider meeting a counselor who has specialized training in helping people who have experienced gender-based violence and sexual misconduct or supporting their loved ones who have experienced it.

The following physical, mental and emotional reactions are common after experiencing trauma. This, however, is not a complete or exhaustive list.

  • 抑郁症
  • 睡眠障碍
  • 创伤后应激障碍症状
  • 焦虑
  • 羞愧
  • 内疚
  • 否认
  • 信任
  • 安全
  • Isolation and withdrawal
  • 失忆
  • 内存
  • 饮食失调
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • 缺乏控制
  • 混乱
  • 悲伤
  • 尴尬 
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