International perceptions of stalking and responsibility: The influence of prior relationship and severity of behavior

Scott, Adrian J.; Rajakaruna, Nikki; Sheridan, Lorraine and Sleath, Emma. 2014. International perceptions of stalking and responsibility: The influence of prior relationship and severity of behavior. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 41(2), pp. 220-236. ISSN 0093-8548 [Article]

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Abstract or 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.

Item Type:

Article

Identification Number (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854813500956

Departments, Centres and Research Units:

Psychology > Forensic Psychology Unit

Dates:

DateEvent
15 May 2013Accepted
30 August 2013Published Online
1 February 2014Published

Item ID:

20425

Date Deposited:

18 May 2017 14:43

Last Modified:

12 May 2022 15:52

Peer Reviewed:

Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.

URI:

https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/20425

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