EVALUATION OF AN INTERVENTION TO CHANGE ATTITUDES TOWARD DATE RAPE

The prevalence of date rape among college students is a major concern. Although much research has been done on risk factors for date rape, f ew researchers have specifically described interventions for the vario us stages of developing a date-rape prevention program. Previous progr ams have often relied on educational videos that feature a ''typical'' date-rape scenario, a format that some researchers suggest may have a negative effect on the way people engage in aggressive sexual behavio r. A less violent theatrical production based on social learning theor y and risk-factor reduction that resulted in a significant improvement in attitudes related to date rape among both male and female students at an elite Texas university is described.