FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE ATTITUDES, BELIEFS, AND BEHAVIORS OF STUDENTS TOWARD SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE Judy L. Postmus Rutgers University Sarah McMahon Rutgers university Corinne Warrener Rutgers University Lisa Macri Rutgers University Social workers will inevitably encounter survivors of domestic violence or sex- ual assault in their work. In this study we explore how education, trairüng, and personal or professional experiences influence students' attitudes, beliefs, and behavior toward survivors. Results indicate that education and/or training decreases students' blaming atfitudes and beUefs supportive of myths and increases their screening behavior. Additionally, professional experience and indirect personal experience was found to predict screening behavior, whereas direct personal experience did not show any significance. These results provide much needed informafion for schools to better prepare students to work with survivors of violence. MILUONS OF WOMEN experience physical, sexual, and other forms of violence every year in the United States (Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998, 2006), often sustaining devastating and long-lasting physical, psychological, emofional, and social wounds (Coker, Davis, et al., 2002). Reaching out for help is often the first step to lessen the impact of such violence (Coker, Smith, et al., 2002; Thompson et al., 2000). Most survivors turn to family and friends first and then to for- mal supports, including social workers, med- ical providers, law enforcement, and other pro- fessionals (Coker, Derrick, Lumpkin, Aldrich, & Oldendick, 2000; Macy, Nurius, Kemic, & Holt, 2005). Unfortunately, not aU of the servic- es or supports are found to be helpful by sur- vivors (Humphreys & Thiara, 2003; Postmus, Severson, Berry, & Yoo, 2009; Zweig & Burt, 2007). Indeed, some researchers use the term "secondary vicfimizafion" to describe how for- mal supports may end up revictimizing the victim by creating addifional trauma and prob- lems for victims (Campbell, 2008; Macy et al., 2005; UlUnan, 1996). Journal of Social Work Education, Vol. 47, No. 2 (Spring/Summer 2011). ©2011, Council on Social Work Education, Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.5175/JSWE.2011.200900122 303