Self-defense refers to actions taken by a person to defend onself, one's property or one's home. There is considerable debate amongst individuals as to what constitutes an acceptable level of physical force during self-defense. Some individuals prefer a limited pacifist response, while others advocate means up to and including deadly force, such as firearms.
Many schools of self-defense also teach strategies aimed at avoiding or defusing physical confrontations. The curriculum for such courses commonly teach positioning strategies and strengthening the defender's self-confidence, which is assumed to discourage some physical attacks. Some studies, for instance, including those by David Lesak, have shown perpetrators who sexually assault acquaintances test their victims first. The perpetrator will gradually cross the potential victim's boundaries through techniques such as touching or making inappropriate sexual comments. If the woman responds with discomfort or fear his intrusive behavior may escalate to sexual assault. Women who responded to these early tactics with consistent assertiveness avoided rape.