The Power of Stereotypes: A Thematic Analysis of How Social Attitudes and Beliefs Shape Perceived Stalking Threat

IF 2.2 3区心理学 Q1 CRIMINOLOGY & PENOLOGY

Journal of Interpersonal Violence Pub Date : 2026-10-17 DOI:10.1177/08862605261490519

Abby Vovchuk, Rebekah E. Waite, Brianne K. Layden, Alicia Nijdam-Jones

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Stalking is a behavior that negatively impacts individuals of all gender identities, and yet public threat perceptions often revolve around cisheteronormative relationship stereotypes. The present qualitative study aimed to explore how observers construct threat perceptions associated with stalking, focusing on perpetrator and victim gender (man, woman, nonbinary) and relationship type (stranger, ex-intimate). Undergraduate psychology students ( N = 243) completed an online vignette survey, answering four exploratory open-ended questions that detail concerns related to the perpetrator’s and victim’s behavior and their relationship. Reflexive thematic analysis generated four themes: Perceptions of Escalation and Dangerous Behavior; Normalization, Minimization, and Justification of Stalking Behavior; Relational Dynamics and Misconceptions of Consent ; and Victim Blame and Protection Strategies . Findings suggest that gendered stereotypes and victim-blaming narratives persist among young adults. Greater public awareness of the prevalence, nature, diversity, and harms associated with stalking may lead to better protection for gender diverse victims and ensure their experiences are recognized and sincerely appreciated in social, clinical, and legal contexts.

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刻板印象的力量：社会态度和信仰如何塑造感知跟踪威胁的专题分析

跟踪是一种对所有性别认同的个体都有负面影响的行为，然而公众对威胁的看法往往围绕着异性恋规范关系的刻板印象。本定性研究旨在探讨观察者如何构建与跟踪相关的威胁感知，重点关注肇事者和受害者性别（男性、女性、非二元性别）和关系类型（陌生人、前亲密关系）。心理学本科学生（N = 243）完成了一项在线小短文调查，回答了四个探索性开放式问题，详细说明了与肇事者和受害者的行为及其关系有关的问题。反身性主题分析产生了四个主题：升级和危险行为的感知；跟踪行为的规范化、最小化和正当化关系动力学与同意的误解以及受害者责备和保护策略。研究结果表明，性别刻板印象和受害者指责叙事在年轻人中持续存在。提高公众对跟踪行为的普遍性、性质、多样性和危害的认识，可能会更好地保护不同性别的受害者，并确保他们的经历在社会、临床和法律环境中得到认可和真诚的赞赏。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Interpersonal Violence Multiple-

CiteScore

6.20

自引率

12.00%

发文量

375

期刊介绍： The Journal of Interpersonal Violence is devoted to the study and treatment of victims and perpetrators of interpersonal violence. It provides a forum of discussion of the concerns and activities of professionals and researchers working in domestic violence, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual assault, physical child abuse, and violent crime. With its dual focus on victims and victimizers, the journal will publish material that addresses the causes, effects, treatment, and prevention of all types of violence. JIV only publishes reports on individual studies in which the scientific method is applied to the study of some aspect of interpersonal violence. Research may use qualitative or quantitative methods. JIV does not publish reviews of research, individual case studies, or the conceptual analysis of some aspect of interpersonal violence. Outcome data for program or intervention evaluations must include a comparison or control group.