A New Approach

Prevention: An Expanding Cast of Characters

For a long, long time, the primary story of “violence against women” prevention included only two primary characters: the potential victim and the potential perpetrator. We talked to women about risk-reduction and how to keep themselves safe. We talked to men about consent and no meaning no. Neither approach has resulted in a measurable reduction in violence on our college campuses. If these are indeed the only two characters in this story, a feeling of hopeless resignation may not be unwarranted. The good news, however, is that there is indeed another character. In fact, there is a whole, massive cast of characters. The bystanders. Our prevention strategy is called “Green Dot” and is built on the premise that engaging the bystander can finally alter the outcome of the tragedy of power-based personal violence.

Green Dot Overview

The Green Dot strategy is a comprehensive approach to violence prevention that capitalizes on the power of peer and cultural influence across all levels of the socio-ecological model. Informed by social change theory, the model targets all community members as potential bystanders, and seeks to engage them, through awareness, education and skills-practice, in proactive behaviors that establish intolerance of violence as the norm, as well as reactive interventions in high-risk situations – resulting in the ultimate reduction of violence. Specifically, the program targets socially influential individuals from across community subgroups. The goal is for these groups to engage in a basic education program that will equip them to integrate moments of prevention within existing relationships and daily activities. By doing so, new norms will be introduced and those within their sphere of influence will be significantly influenced to move from passive agreement that violence is wrong, to active intervention.

Green Dots carry influence and create change across all levels of the socio-ecological model. Regardless of the level, ultimately change is created when an individual takes a specific action. The scope of the influence – from individual to societal – is determined by the access and sphere of influence of the individual. Tim, the freshmen college student makes the single choice to write a paper on violence prevention, increasing his knowledge and making an impact at the individual level. Paul, a lawyer in town, makes the single choice to have a conversation with his brother about the importance of getting involved in prevention efforts, making an impact at the relational level. Karen, president of the local home-owners association, makes the single choice to organize a community training for her neighborhood, impacting at the community level. Kristen, a Hollywood producer, makes the single choice to avoid gratuitous violence in all her movies, making an impact at the societal level. One person, one choice, different levels of impact.

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