Understanding your role in preventing sexual assaults Published June 18, 2014 By Mark Wyatt 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Dr. Alan D. Berkowitz, a psychologist and leader in the development of social norms theory and the bystander intervention approach, spoke to personnel here June 13. During three sessions in the O'Neill Auditorium, Berkowitz discussed, "The Role of Your Leadership in Reducing Sexual Assault and Other High-Risk Behavior." Preventing sexual assaults begins with stopping negative attitudes and behaviors and supporting positive ones, Berkowitz said. "Leadership creates the environment ... the environment either encourages or discourages positive and negative behaviors," he said. Commenting about a bystander intervention session earlier in the day for Hanscom senior leaders only, Berkowitz said he was "very impressed that the room was full of leaders." But he was quick to point out that the leader, the one who helps to create the atmosphere, may not always come from the upper ranks. "Leaders of all ranks can shape the environment," he said. "Even someone who is an Airman, who doesn't have any rank, that individual may be looked up to by their friends as a leader - because they have influence." He said that while the military has seen progress over the past several years, he acknowledged that there is still a long way to go. "Sexual assault is a topic that the military is paying a lot of attention to -- it has the attention of the highest levels of leadership," Berkowitz said. They're paying attention because, as he pointed out, the consequence of a sexual assault reaches far beyond the victim. "Sexual assault isn't just something traumatic that happens to someone; it's something that impairs our ability to be an effective fighting force." Berkowitz noted that a bystander has great influence over preventing an assault from happening. "Everyone is a bystander and everyone can do something about it," he said. "Contractors, civilians and every servicemember here have the potential to intervene." He noted that victims also have great power to help others. "Victims are true heroes," said Berkowitz. "Because if I were to commit 10 sexual assaults in the next two years and one of those victims were to come forward and report it, that victim could prevent the subsequent ones from happening." Other ways to prevent sexual assaults is by recognizing problem behaviors. "In the Army and Air Force, because there are so many more men than women, there are numerically more male victims than female victims," said Berkowitz. He asked those in attendance to remember, there are two people involved: one is being accused and one has reported. "The one who has been accused is innocent until proven guilty and deserves a fair hearing; the one who is accusing, you must believe everything they say until proven otherwise," Berkowitz said. He finished by commenting on leadership's ability to create an environment that prevents unhealthy behaviors. "The people who are the happiest in their job, it's not about how much money they get, it's about the environment they work in," he said.