The Influence of Prior Relationship on Perceptions of Stalking

Scott, Adrian J.; Nixon, Keri; Sheridan, Lorraine

doi:10.1177/0093854813494183

Cited by 38 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Despite this evidence, ex-partners are less likely to be convicted of stalking and cases of harassment are more likely to be dropped when the harassment involves an expartner rather than a stranger (Harris, 2000). Further, Scott and Gavin (2011) found that mock jurors were more likely to reach a guilty verdict when the perpetrator was portrayed as a stranger rather than an ex-partner. Evidently, preconceived ideas about the nature of stalking which are not reflective of the realities of the behaviour impact on decision making and criminal justice responses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Framing and perceptions of stalking: the influence of conduct severity and the perpetrator–target relationship

Scott

Rajakaruna

Sheridan

2013

Psychology, Crime & Law

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Research has demonstrated that the way in which questions are presented (i.e., framed) has the capacity to influence responses to subsequent questions (Tourangeau & Rasinski, 1988).In the context of stalking, perception research has often been framed in terms of whether or not particular behaviours constitute stalking. The current research investigates whether the framing of the opening question (question frame), conduct severity and the perpetrator-target relationship influence perceptions of stalking. Two studies employed experimental 3 × 3 independent factorial designs: one to examine question frame and conduct severity, the other to examine question frame and the perpetrator-target relationship. Participants in both studies (total N = 449) were presented with vignettes and asked to answer six questions relating to the behaviour described. Question frame was found to impact on the classification of behaviour, with a greater proportion of participants indicating that the behaviour represented harassment or stalking rather than an illegal act. Consistent with previous research, conduct severity and the perpetrator-target relationship influenced perceptions of stalking. However, there was no evidence to suggest that the framing of the opening question influenced these perceptions. The implications of these findings for previous perception research are discussed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Framing and perceptions of stalking: the influence of conduct severity and the perpetrator–target relationship

Scott

Rajakaruna

Sheridan

2013

Psychology, Crime & Law

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“…This may reflect previous findings that knowledge of or exposure to stalking may reduce endorsement of some stalking myths. Weller et al (2013) and Scott et al (2013) both found that police with specialist training or direct experience of stalking cases endorsed fewer misperceptions about stalking, took stalking more seriously and were less likely to blame victims. Unfortunately, a firm conclusion about whether police took stalking more seriously than community members due to additional knowledge cannot be drawn as such knowledge was not assessed in this study.…”

Section: Between Group Differences In Stalking Myth Endorsementmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…When presented with short stalking vignettes in which the prior relationship between victim and stalker is manipulated, all respondents, whether male or female, general community or police officers, are more likely to identify unwanted intrusions by strangers as stalking. Strangers are also judged to present a greater threat and require more police response than ex-partners or acquaintances (Hills & Taplin, 1998;Phillips, Quirk, Rosenfeld, & O'Connor, 2004;Scott, Lloyd, & Gavin, 2010;Scott, Nixon, & Sheridan, 2013;Scott et al, 2014;Sheridan, Gillett, Davies, Blaauw, & Patel, 2003;Weller, Hope, & Sheridan, 2013). Recent research by Scott and colleagues (2013) and Weller and colleagues (2013) demonstrates that even among police who have specialist training or direct experience with stalking cases, stranger stalkers are viewed as more problematic or a greater threat.…”

Section: Perceptions Of Stalkingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One suggested explanation for "victim blaming" attitudes being common in society is the just world hypothesis (JWH; Lerner & Simmons, 1966). According to the JWH, people are motivated to view the world as a safe place where people get what they deserve and deserve what they get (Scott et al, 2013). Sheridan and colleagues (2003) suggested that, in the context of stalking, victim blaming may be particularly likely in ex-intimate cases as a shared history makes it easier to diminish the perpetrator's responsibility.…”

Section: This Study Investigated Latent Attitudes and Beliefs About Smentioning

confidence: 99%

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“It's Not Really Stalking If You Know the Person”: Measuring Community Attitudes That Normalize, Justify and Minimise Stalking

McKeon

McEwan

Luebbers

2014

Psychiatry, Psychology and Law

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It has been hypothesised that attitudes minimising, justifying and normalising stalking exist in the community, influencing whether or not stalking is recognised, and potentially affecting the responses of police and others to whom victims turn for support. This study investigates the nature of these attitudes as measured using the Stalking Related Attitudes Questionnaire (SRAQ). Two hundred and forty-four community members and 280 police officers in Victoria, Australia (total sample 61% male, mean age D 43.3, SD D 13.3) completed the SRAQ. Full information factor analysis identified three underlying stalking-related attitudes: "stalking isn't serious", "stalking is romantic" and "victims are to blame". Males endorsed all to a greater extent than females, whereas police and community only differed in that police believed stalking to be more serious. Stronger stereotype endorsement was related to judgements of not guilty in a fictional stalking case. These results indicate that attitudes and beliefs that downplay, excuse and normalise stalking behaviour can be measured, and have some influence on recognition of stalking behaviour.

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“…Although no research has investigated the aforementioned in terms of CSA victims, similar research has been conducted within the stalking literature and revealed specialist police officers to be less influenced by stalking myths compared to non-specialist police officers (Scott, Nixon, & Sheridan, 2013). Therefore, evaluating whether such differences are prevalent in terms of CSA victims is deemed important to identify training needs and in turn improve the support provided to CSA victims.…”

Section: Further Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

A systematic literature review: which factors influence English and Welsh perceptions towards victims of child sexual abuse?

Hatton

Duff

2016

Journal of Sexual Aggression

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Negative perceptions towards child sexual abuse (CSA) victims are prevalent within society. This has potential implications for CSA victims in terms of its effects on victim well-being and legal proceedings. Although many studies have investigated which factors influence English and Welsh perceptions, a systematic review has not been conducted to synthesise findings. Nine electronic bibliographic databases, six grey literature databases and one gateway resource were searched. Hand-searches of journals and references were also conducted and field experts contacted. Following the application of the inclusion criteria, studies were quality assessed and data extracted. The search yielded 4182 studies of which 1501 duplicates and 2644 irrelevant studies were excluded. After a further 26 studies were excluded, 11 studies were included in the review. This revealed a sample of 3088 participants with 18 factors investigated. To acknowledge the heterogeneity of the data, a narrative data synthesis approach was used. The review identified firm conclusions regarding respondent gender, whereby males perceived CSA victims as more to blame, more culpable, less reliable and less credible. Other tentative conclusions are discussed. Potential implications of these findings are discussed in terms of professional services and the response victims receive during disclosure. ARTICLE HISTORY

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The Influence of Prior Relationship on Perceptions of Stalking

Cited by 38 publications

References 33 publications

Framing and perceptions of stalking: the influence of conduct severity and the perpetrator–target relationship

Framing and perceptions of stalking: the influence of conduct severity and the perpetrator–target relationship

“It's Not Really Stalking If You Know the Person”: Measuring Community Attitudes That Normalize, Justify and Minimise Stalking

A systematic literature review: which factors influence English and Welsh perceptions towards victims of child sexual abuse?

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