SPOTTING THE SIGNS: FIRST-YEAR COLLEGE STUDENTS' RESPONSES TO BYSTANDER-THEMED RAPE PREVENTION POSTERS.

POSTERS; UNDERGRADUATES; BYSTANDER involvement; INTERNET surveys; RAPE prevention; DORMITORIES

This research evaluated whether exposure to 'Know Your Power' posters promotes willingness to help others at risk, alone or in interaction with social self-identification. At the start of the academic year, posters were hung in two randomly selected residence halls. No posters were hung in a control hall. After 6 weeks, first-year undergraduate students ( N = 95) reported their willingness to help others and their perceptions of the posters via an anonymous online survey. More students from the experimental than control halls noticed the posters; there were no other differences between students who did and did not notice the posters. Willingness to help others at risk was elevated among students exposed to posters at least once. This effect was marginally enhanced among students who perceived the posters as depicting familiar people and situations. Overall, results suggest that bystander-themed educational posters help promote community safety by encouraging bystander intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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