Citation

Williams MJ, Hebl MR. J. Appl. Soc. Psychol. 2005; 35(2): 366-382.

Affiliation

Institute of Personality and Social Research, University of California, 4143 Tolman Hall, MC 5050, Berkeley, CA 94720. (e-mail: melissa@socrates.berkeley.edu)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1559-1816.2005.tb02125.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Whereas men and women predict that they will have similar responses to a physical attack, women's actual self-defense behaviors are less effective than are men's. In Study 1, male and female students expected to respond equally quickly and aggressively to a hypothetical attack by a stranger. Women also considered themselves to be more knowledgeable about self-defense, more physically fit, and less likely to become assault victims than the "average woman," and both men and women underestimated their victimization risk. In Study 2, a simulated attack situation showed strong gender differences, with men defending themselves more effectively than women. These findings suggest a disparity between beliefs and abilities among young women at risk of violence.