Dedicating to ending sexual violence on campus
PROGRAMS & TOOLS
PREVENTION
PROGRAMMING MATRIX
U Got This! — Your Guide to Speak Up, Step In, and Create a Better Campus for All
U Got This! Is an online prevention program developed by Catharsis Productions, the company that created Sex Signals. It uses humor, animation, music and Interactive Conversation software to help participants examine unchecked attitudes and language that contribute to a cultural tolerance of sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking. The program is narrated with a male voice and makes use of text, images and cartoons to portray key themes and statistics.
| Program Name | Level of Evidence | Format | Target Audience | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
U Got This! — Your Guide to Speak Up, Step In, and Create a Better Campus for All
|
Promising Direction |
|
|
Interactive training with use of humor and conversational tone that adapts to user engagement |
Learning Objectives
During the program, participants will:
- examine the attitudes and language that contribute to our cultural tolerance of sexual violence, intimate partner/dating violence, and stalking
- explore opportunities to intervene across a diverse range of circumstances, populations and identities
- identify their own best practices for intervention through active engagement across a range of relevant scenarios
- understand their institution’s policies, resources, and commitment to ending interpersonal violence
Methods
A male narrator guide the participant through all three modules of content. The curriculum encourages students to examine unchecked attitudes that contribute to a cultural tolerance of sexual violence,domestic violence, and stalking and provides tools and simulated scenarios for them to engage in bystander intervention. Examples and content address a diverse set of circumstances, populations, and identities. The content is presented in 2D animation and makes use of humor, interactive quizzes, and music.
Dosage
Three 10 to 20-minute individual blocks of instruction; can be delivered independently of one another, or as a one-hour block.
Logistics
Catharsis offers customizable elements within the training and helps administrators track completion.
Population Served
Undergraduate students
Theoretical Basis For Approach
The content of U Got This! related to the nature of sexual violence and perpetrators is driven by the research of serial non-stranger rapists conducted by David Lisak and Paul Miller and McWhorter (2009) and research on the role of justification, victim blaming, and sexist attitudes on perpetration. Content related to role of coercion and consent is driven by the research of Conroy, et al., (2014), Young, et al., (2016); Degue and DeLillo (2004).
The program’s pedagogical approach is based on bystander intervention research and moral domain theory. The inclusion of strategic humor is based off a wide breadth of research demonstrating its efficacy in various prevention efforts.
Program Effectiveness
Catharsis Productions worked with an evaluation specialist to assess the effectiveness of U Got This! using a pre/post test study design. The results demonstrated a positive shift in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behavioral intentions on all 18 measures assessed. Students made particularly strong improvements on: knowledge of how to intervene as a bystander, intention to intervene, awareness of how to support survivors, and understanding of how toxic messages contribute to rape culture. To learn more about this evaluation, get in touch with Catharsis Productions.
Dr. Lauren Patterson and Gemma Skuraton of Georgia Southern University created the attached study, “Comparative Analysis of Evidence-Based Sexual Assault Curricula” that stated “Empirical findings strongly support the study’s hypothesis that the Catharsis curriculum (U Got This!) is a more effective educational experience for students compared to the Everfi (Haven) curriculum.”
In addition, Anna Sotelo-Peryea of the University of Buffalo found a 28% knowledge gain on sexual violence prevention for returning student athletes compared to a 3% knowledge gain from student-athletes completing another online sexual assault prevention program designed for student-athletes.
PARTICIPATING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
The Ohio State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University at Buffalo, Western Kentucky University, Georgia Southern University
CONSIDERATIONS FOR ADMINIsTRATORS
U Got This! does not offer the breadth of length of content that many other online programs do. Still, this is a highly creative, engaging and smart program. Because students can mute or skip through content in online programs, the value of having an entertaining platform that connects to students cannot be understated. The program also integrates students of color and LGBT students into examples and narrative.
Catharsis recently created two additional trainings, one designed specifically for Community College students and the other designed for Graduate and Professional students.
HOW TO ACCESS THIS PROGRAM
Information can be obtained by contacting Catharsis Productions at 312.243.0022 or info@catharsisproductions.com. Pricing for one-year or multi-year contracts vary, but are based on the size of the population an institution wishes to reach. Discounts are offered on this online training when packaged with one of Catharsis Productions' live programs.
Sources
DeGue, S., & DiLillo, D. (2005). “You would if you loved me”: Toward an improved conceptual and etiological understanding of nonphysical male sexual coercion. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 10(4), 513-532. doi: 10.1016/j.avb.2004.09.001
Lisak, D., & Miller, P. M. (2002). Repeat rape and multiple offending among undetected rapists. Violence and victims, 17(1), 73-84. doi: 10.1891/vivi.17.1.73.33638
McWhorter, S. K., Stander, V. A., Merrill, L. L., Thomsen, C. J., & Milner, J. S. (2009). Reports of rape reperpetration by newly enlisted male Navy personnel. Violence and victims, 24(2), 204-218. doi: 10.1891/0886-6708.24.2.204
Young, B. R., Desmarais, S. L., Baldwin, J. A., & Chandler, R. (2016). Sexual Coercion Practices Among Undergraduate Male Recreational Athletes, Intercollegiate Athletes, and Non-Athletes. Violence against women. [Epub before print] doi: 10.1177/1077801216651339