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Acquaintance rape is a common crime on American campuses.
Numerous studies have found that between 15 percent and 30 percent of college women have been the victims of rape by someone they know in their lifetimes . 1 Women ages 16-24 have a risk of being sexually assaulted four times the risk of all women. In most cases, college men who rape are considered quite normal by their peer groups and in their everyday lives. 3 Sexual assault and acquaintance rape on campus can best be understood as resulting from multiple factors, including perpetrator attitudes toward rape, misperception of verbal and nonverbal cues, and alcohol and other situational risk factors. 3 Perpetrator Characteristics Misinterpretation of Verbal and Nonverbal Cues Sexual Harassment Alcohol Use and Other Situational Factors Prevention Focus References Other Organizations Other Materials Other Internet Resources Perpetrator Characteristics Research suggests that most college men who commit acquaintance rape or other sexual assaults perceive their behavior as justifiable.