lvc@cbvox.att.COM (Lawrence V Cipriani) (03/30/91)
The Second Amendment Foundation [12500 N.E. Tenth Place, Bellevue, WA 98005] has funded a study on the psychological effects of handgun training on women. The study, by University of Washington researcher Kimberly Wheeler, is titled "Self-efficacy changes in women learning handgun self-defense." The study will follow a group of women through a handgun self-defense training program to determine the psychological effects of such training. The study's author will look for changes in self-esteem and self-confidence, and expects both will rise after the training. "It is expected that training in handgun self-defense will provide mastery experience to strengthen global and domain-specific self-efficacy, as well as behavioral competency in target shooting," the author stated. "Increases in global self-esteem and assertiveness are expected as well. No changes are expected in the pre- post levels of hostility and aggression." The study is slated to be completed in two years. Results will be made available through SAF. [On a mildly-related note, target shooting is the only sport in which there is no separation of men and women in competition. CTM] -- Larry Cipriani, att!cbvox!lvc or lvc@cbvox.att.com "I just love the smell of gunpowder." -- Bugs Bunny