Gavin, Jeff and Scott, Adrian J.. 2016. The influence of the sex of and prior relationship between the perpetrator and victim on perceptions of stalking: A qualitative analysis. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 23(5), pp. 716-732. ISSN 1321-8719 [Article]

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Abstract or Description

The sex of and prior relationship between the perpetrator and victim have been shown to influence perceptions of stalking. To explore the ways in which shared assumptions around these factors interact to shape perceptions of stalking, this study analyses the deliberations of mock juries as they attempt to reach a unanimous verdict on a hypothetical stalking case summary. Twelve mock juries comprising between five and six ‘jurors’ (n = 64) were presented with one of three versions of a case summary (stranger, acquaintance, and ex-partner) describing a man stalking a woman or a woman stalking a man. Thematic analysis shows that factors mitigating the perpetrator's behaviour and judgements about the victim's behaviour were key themes in all jury deliberations, but played only a minor role in shaping verdict decisions for a woman stalking a man. It is concluded that the boundary between ‘normal’ relationship behaviour and stalking is positioned differently for male and female perpetrators.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2016.1142933
Keywords:	gender, just-world hypothesis, mock jury, prior relationship, stalking, thematic analysis
Departments, Centres and Research Units:	Psychology > Forensic Psychology Unit
Dates:	Date Event 14 January 2016 Accepted 10 March 2016 Published Online
Item ID:	20436
Date Deposited:	18 May 2017 09:58
Last Modified:	12 May 2022 15:07
Peer Reviewed:	Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.
URI:	https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/20436

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