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Interpersonal relationships and stalking: identifying when to intervene
1School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia. Susan.Dennison@griffith.edu.au
Law and Human Behavior
|January 27, 2007
Summary
Intent is key in defining stalking behaviors. Community members perceive actions as illegal stalking only when explicit intent to cause fear is evident, influencing legal interpretations.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Criminology
- Sociology
Background:
- Distinguishing stalking from normal relationship behaviors is a challenge for legal systems.
- Understanding community perceptions is crucial for effective stalking legislation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how intent, persistence, perspective, and gender influence perceptions of post-relationship behaviors.
- To determine factors differentiating normal interactions from stalking.
Main Methods:
- Survey of 868 community members assessing perceptions of relationship dissolution scenarios.
- Analysis of how explicit intent, repetition, and gender affected judgments of behavior.
Main Results:
- Behavior perceived as illegal stalking required explicit evidence of intent.
- Fear arousal was rated higher with explicit intent and repeated behaviors.
- Explicit intent and repeated episodes influenced perceptions of future behavior.
Conclusions:
- Community perceptions of stalking are heavily influenced by explicit evidence of intent.
- Findings can inform the interpretation and application of stalking legislation.
- Understanding these perceptions is vital for legal and social responses to stalking.
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