Identity-Driven Targeted Violence in a College Setting: An Overview of Prevalence and Behavioral Responses

Abstract

Background: Online and offline identity-driven harassment disproportionately affects minoritized college students, contributing to poorer academic performance and attrition. Because victims are often hesitant to formally report incidents, additional research is needed to understand the genuine prevalence of these experiences as well as the responses victims engage in following the incidents. Methods: A large undergraduate sample (N = 2000) from a Midwestern university responded to an anonymous survey assessing the frequency of identity-driven behavior occurring on-campus and beyond, in addition to how they responded to harassment. Results: The results unveiled that perpetrators most often targeted an individual’s sex and gender, followed by their sexual orientation and race. Specific behaviors ranged from more frequent, mild forms of harassment (i.e., verbal harassment, invading space) to less frequent, severe forms of harassment (i.e., physical and sexual assault). Victims reported engaging in informal activities following harassment, such as relying on social support or ignoring the perpetrator. Conclusions: The current study unveiled patterns of identity-driven behaviors experienced by college students as well as how they respond to victimization. Future directions and practical implications are discussed.