Anticipated responses to stalking: Effect of threat and target-stalker relationship

Author: 
Hills,A.M
Taplin,J.L
Reprint Status: 
IN FILE
Start Page: 
139
End Page: 
146
Journal/Periodical Name: 
Psychiatry, Psychology Law
Volume: 
5
Issue: 
1
Abstract: 
The authors state that while anti-stalking legislation provides a remedy against the harassment of one individual by another, there is little understanding of how the community perceives stalking behaviors. This study examines the impact of threat, and target-stalker relationship on female and male beliefs about their likely responses to stalking. Community participants (N = 172) were presented with a scenario concerning stalking. After reading the scenario, they filled out a rating scale. Results show that, in general, participants would be less frightened and less likely to call the police when being stalked by a former intimate than by a stranger. For instances of threat vs. no threat females were equally likely to call the police while males were more likely to contact the police when an explicit threat was made. Other responses confirmed that, overall, participants viewed stalking as a serious problem. However, apparent misconceptions about the relative seriousness of different stalking scenarios indicated that community education may be needed.
Topic Areas: 
Community Attitudes/Responses, Stalking
Reference Type: 
JOUR
Reference ID: 
2345
Publication Date: 
1998