Facilitators and barriers of bystander intervention: A focus group study with a university sample

Mainwaring, Chelsea; Scott, Adrian J. and Gabbert, Fiona. 2024. Facilitators and barriers of bystander intervention: A focus group study with a university sample. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 39(11-12), 2655 -2686. ISSN 0886-2605 [Article]

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Abstract or Description

Image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) encompasses the taking, sharing, and/or threatening to share nude or sexual images of others without their consent. The prevalence of IBSA is growing rapidly due to technological advancements, such as access to smartphones, that have made engagement in such activities easier. Bystanders offer an important means of intervention, but little is known about what facilitates or inhibits bystander action in these contexts. To address this gap in the literature, seven focus groups (n = 35) were conducted to explore the factors that facilitate and inhibit bystander action in the context of three different IBSA scenarios (taking, sharing, and making threats to share nude or sexual images without consent). Using thematic analysis, eight themes were identified, suggesting that the perceived likelihood of intervention increased with greater feelings of responsibility, empathy with the victim, reduced feelings of audience inhibition, greater feelings of safety, greater anger toward the IBSA behavior, closer relationships with the victim and perpetrator, the incident involving a female victim and male perpetrator, and perception of greater benefits of police involvement. These findings are considered alongside the physical sexual violence literature in highlighting the similarities and nuances across the different contexts. Implications for the development of policies and educational materials are discussed in relation to encouraging greater bystander intervention in IBSA contexts.

Item Type:

Article

Identification Number (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605231222452

Keywords:

bystander intervention, social-justice ally, image-based sexual abuse, revenge pornography, technology-facilitated sexual abuse

Departments, Centres and Research Units:

Psychology > Forensic Psychology Unit
Psychology

Dates:

DateEvent
3 December 2023Accepted
28 January 2024Published Online
June 2024Published

Item ID:

34891

Date Deposited:

26 Mar 2024 09:24

Last Modified:

17 May 2024 00:55

Peer Reviewed:

Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.

URI:

https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/34891

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