International Perceptions of Stalking and Responsibility: The Influence of Prior Relationship and Severity of Behavior

This study investigates the influence of prior relationship and severity of behavior on perceptions of stalking and responsibility with a combined sample of 1,080 members of the community from Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Participants were presented with 1 of 12 versions of...

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Main Authors: Scott, A., Rajakaruna, N., Sheridan, Lorraine, Sleath, E.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Sage Publications, Inc. 2014
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/25282
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author Scott, A.
Rajakaruna, N.
Sheridan, Lorraine
Sleath, E.
author_facet Scott, A.
Rajakaruna, N.
Sheridan, Lorraine
Sleath, E.
author_sort Scott, A.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This study investigates the influence of prior relationship and severity of behavior on perceptions of stalking and responsibility with a combined sample of 1,080 members of the community from Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Participants were presented with 1 of 12 versions of a hypothetical stalking scenario and responded to scale items regarding the behavior of a male perpetrator toward a female target. Prior relationship and severity of behavior influenced perceptions of stalking and responsibility, and the pattern of findings was consistent across the three countries. The perpetrator’s behavior was perceived to constitute stalking, and necessitate police intervention and a criminal conviction to the greatest extent when the perpetrator and target were portrayed as strangers. In addition, the target was perceived to be the least responsible and the perpetrator was perceived to be the most responsible when they were portrayed as strangers.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-252822017-09-13T15:20:01Z International Perceptions of Stalking and Responsibility: The Influence of Prior Relationship and Severity of Behavior Scott, A. Rajakaruna, N. Sheridan, Lorraine Sleath, E. This study investigates the influence of prior relationship and severity of behavior on perceptions of stalking and responsibility with a combined sample of 1,080 members of the community from Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Participants were presented with 1 of 12 versions of a hypothetical stalking scenario and responded to scale items regarding the behavior of a male perpetrator toward a female target. Prior relationship and severity of behavior influenced perceptions of stalking and responsibility, and the pattern of findings was consistent across the three countries. The perpetrator’s behavior was perceived to constitute stalking, and necessitate police intervention and a criminal conviction to the greatest extent when the perpetrator and target were portrayed as strangers. In addition, the target was perceived to be the least responsible and the perpetrator was perceived to be the most responsible when they were portrayed as strangers. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/25282 10.1177/0093854813500956 Sage Publications, Inc. fulltext
spellingShingle Scott, A.
Rajakaruna, N.
Sheridan, Lorraine
Sleath, E.
International Perceptions of Stalking and Responsibility: The Influence of Prior Relationship and Severity of Behavior
title International Perceptions of Stalking and Responsibility: The Influence of Prior Relationship and Severity of Behavior
title_full International Perceptions of Stalking and Responsibility: The Influence of Prior Relationship and Severity of Behavior
title_fullStr International Perceptions of Stalking and Responsibility: The Influence of Prior Relationship and Severity of Behavior
title_full_unstemmed International Perceptions of Stalking and Responsibility: The Influence of Prior Relationship and Severity of Behavior
title_short International Perceptions of Stalking and Responsibility: The Influence of Prior Relationship and Severity of Behavior
title_sort international perceptions of stalking and responsibility: the influence of prior relationship and severity of behavior
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/25282