journal article
LitStream Collection
Home
DeMatteo, David; Wagage, Suraji; Fairfax-Columbo, Jaymes
2017 Journal of Aggression Conflict and Peace Research
doi: 10.1108/JACPR-06-2016-0234
PurposeAs society becomes more technology oriented, cyberstalking is becoming an increasing concern. The purpose of this paper is to compare US state and federal statutory and case law to a survey of public perception of cyberstalking to examine if cyberstalking laws reflect public opinion.Design/methodology/approachA national sample of 303 participants ranging in age from 18 to 69 years (M=33.35, SD=10.45) completed a novel cyberstalking survey and demographic questionnaire. The survey encompassed participants’ perceptions about the scope of cyberstalking as a crime, views on punishment of cyberstalking, and behaviors they have engaged in online or experienced from others that could constitute cyberstalking.FindingsFindings indicated numerous areas of disagreement between public perception and statutory case law, such as a public preference that cyberstalking be treated as a separate offense from stalking, that a threat of violence is not required for behavior to constitute cyberstalking, and that there should be a private civil cause of action for cyberstalking. Findings also indicated that a substantial minority of participants had engaged in or been the victim of cyber actions that could be considered cyberstalking, and that the public preferred sanctions other than incarceration for cyberstalking.Originality/valueThis is the first study to examine whether cyberstalking policy in the USA reflects public perception of cyberstalking.
Green, Kathleen; Kukan, Zoe; Tully, Ruth J.
2017 Journal of Aggression Conflict and Peace Research
doi: 10.1108/JACPR-06-2016-0235
Purpose“Negging” can be described as the purposeful lowering of a woman’s self-esteem to increase perceived attractiveness of the man in order to achieve sexual conquest. Negging has evolved over time. Whilst “original” negging was intended to be a harmless tool for attracting women, more recently dating companies have been teaching men “evolved” negging in a potentially damaging way, which could escalate into an abusive intimate relationship. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey involving vignettes depicting negging between strangers with three conditions: “original”, “evolved”, and “control” was completed by 308 participants. Participants were asked how harmful, acceptable, and how likely to escalate each scenario was. A fourth vignette described “evolved” negging between partners.FindingsMixed methods analysis of variance indicated that participants perceived all negging as being significantly more harmful than control “pick-up” lines. “Evolved” negging was considered to be more likely to escalate in seriousness than “original” negging.Research limitations/implicationsDespite the public viewing negging as harmful and with the potential to escalate in seriousness, women are still being targeted in this manner and the industry “teaching” negging is growing despite controversy. This study aims to increase general awareness of negging in order to minimise harm caused to women who are “picked-up” through this technique. To this end, directions for future research are highlighted.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the first empirical studies in the area of negging. The perceived, and potential, harm caused can be studied in light of these novel findings with the aim of protecting women from harm.
2017 Journal of Aggression Conflict and Peace Research
doi: 10.1108/JACPR-08-2016-0248
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore whether the voluntary sector meets male rape victims’ needs in England, UK. The author’s contribution represents an attempt to piece together some of the voluntary sector’s responses to male rape victims in England, UK and examine whether they meet male rape victims’ needs.Design/methodology/approachThe author draws on data collected from semi-structured interviews and qualitative questionnaires with male rape counsellors, therapists and voluntary agency caseworkers (n=70).FindingsThe findings reveal nuanced themes that have been overlooked in the existing literature of male rape: first, male rape victims are not given a choice of their voluntary agency practitioner (regarding gender) to serve them; second, there is no specific training on male rape in voluntary agencies; third, the impact of limited resources and funding in the voluntary sector means that many male rape victims’ needs are unmet; and finally, there is ageism and discrimination in some voluntary agencies, whereby male rape victims are prioritised in terms of their age.Research limitations/implicationsMethodologically, the author’s sample size was not considerably large (n=70), making it difficult to generalise the findings to all voluntary agency practitioners in a British context.Practical implicationsAt a time of scarce funding and scant resources for the third sector, the impact of limited resources and funding in the voluntary sector could mean that male rape victims may not receive proper care and treatment. Budget cuts in the third sector are problematic, in that voluntary agencies may be unable to get access to robust training programs for male rape or to resources that can help shape and develop the ways in which they serve male rape victims. The needs of male rape victims, therefore, are unlikely to be met at the local, regional and national levels.Social implicationsSome practitioners are misinformed about male rape and do not have the tools to be able to adequately and efficiently handle male rape victims. Not only can their lack of understanding of male rape worsen male rape victims’ trauma through inappropriate ways of handling them, but also the practitioners may implicitly reinforce male rape myths, such as “male rape is solely a homosexual issue” or “men cannot be raped”.Originality/valueWhilst previous contributions have recognised the third sector’s responses to female rape victims, little work has been done to identify their treatment of male rape victims. The author attempts to fill some of this lacuna. In particular, The author draws attention to some of the issues and dilemmas that arise when voluntary agencies provide services for male victims of rape. The author’s concern is that many male rape victims’ needs may be neglected or ignored because of the rise in neoliberalism, as there appears to be a financial meltdown in the voluntary sector.
Rockett, Patrick; Fan, Susan K.; Dwyer, Rocky J.; Foy, Tommy
2017 Journal of Aggression Conflict and Peace Research
doi: 10.1108/JACPR-11-2016-0262
PurposeThe purpose of this qualitative, multiple-case study paper is to determine whether Irish universities have policies and procedures to address workplace bullying; to determine the views of HR leaders regarding the efficacy of such policies; to explore the experience of HR leaders in the application of such policies; and, to explore which cost-reduction strategies Irish university HR leaders utilized to manage the consequences of workplace bullying.Design/methodology/approachThe participants for this multiple-case study consisted of senior manager grade staff with expertise in the area of study from all seven Irish universities. One on one interviews were conducted with participants to gain an understanding of their experience of dealing with workplace bullying. The analysis of their bullying policies and procedures provided insights about their experiences in the application of policy.FindingsThe findings of this study may offer university leaders and a wider audience of managers an understanding of the effect that workplace bullying has on employees and on their organizations.Practical implicationsThis study may inform university and business leaders on how to address the problem of workplace bullying effectively.Originality/valueThe findings from this study contribute to the discourse on workplace bullying and may help leaders to understand a phenomenon that costs their institutions a substantial amount in human capital leading to positive social change in their organizations.
2017 Journal of Aggression Conflict and Peace Research
doi: 10.1108/JACPR-08-2016-0244
PurposeThere is limited research on Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) in forensic contexts; this case study therefore significantly contributes to the knowledge base. The purpose of this paper is to present the assessment and treatment of an adult male offender with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The client’s offence involved intimate partner violence and was committed at a time of acute psychiatric relapse.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 12 sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy and CAT informed treatment were individually designed to meet the needs of the client, delivered in an in-patient setting in the UK. The client’s progress was assessed using psychometric, observational, and narrative/descriptive methods.FindingsPsychometric evidence was limited by distorted responding. However, narrative/descriptive assessment indicated that progress had been made in some areas. Recommendations for further treatment were made.Practical implicationsIn total, 12 sessions did not meet all of the client’s needs. The use of CAT as a model that his team could use in understanding his violence was conducive to risk management. Overall, insight gained through CAT-based psychological intervention contributed to risk reduction.Originality/valueThis case study demonstrates the applicability of CAT to forensic settings.
Bandt-Law, Bryn; Krauss, Daniel
2017 Journal of Aggression Conflict and Peace Research
doi: 10.1108/JACPR-04-2016-0225
PurposeMortality is a salient factor during capital sentencing. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role death plays in jurors’ decisions when sentencing a severely mentally ill defendant who is subject to possible discrimination in a capital trial because of that status.Design/methodology/approachThe current experiment measured venire jurors’ (n=133) mental illness dangerousness beliefs, and then experimentally manipulated type of mortality salience (dual-focused: participants who contemplated their own mortality and were exposed to trial-related death references vs trial focused: only exposed to death references) and the type of defendant (severely mentally ill vs neutral) accused of a capital offense.FindingsMock jurors perceived mental illness to be an important mitigating factor when dual (i.e. self) focused mortality (DFM) salience was induced, whereas participants only exposed to trial-related death references considered mental illness to be an aggravating factor in sentencing and were more likely to evidence stereotype adherence toward the defendant.Practical implicationsThe implications of the authors’ findings are problematic for the current legal system. During the majority of capital sentencing, jurors will only be exposed to trial-related death references, as individuals in the trial-focused mortality condition were. The findings suggest that these jurors are likely to engage in discriminatory stereotypes that do not consider fair process when making sentencing decisions. This research also suggests that mortality salience may be able to increase jurors’ attention to such concerns in a trial scenario even when negative mental illness stereotypes are present.Originality/valueResearch builds on existing terror management theory and offers a more nuanced perspective of how focusing on one’s own death can affect jurors’ reliance on stereotypes and lead to inappropriate decisions. Mortality salience can lead to decisions based upon procedural fairness when stereotypes and mortality salience are both present.
Kopkin, Megan R.; Brodsky, Stanley L.; DeMatteo, David
2017 Journal of Aggression Conflict and Peace Research
doi: 10.1108/JACPR-06-2016-0232
PurposeThe legal system’s use of risk assessment has grown exponentially over the past several decades. Empirically validated risk measures are commonly implemented in parole, bail, civil commitment, and presentence proceedings. Despite their growing popularity, both policy-makers and legal scholars question their moral and legal acceptability, particularly in presentence proceedings. The purpose of this paper is to assess the current role of risk assessment in sentencing through an examination of the instrument currently under construction in the state of Pennsylvania.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the current state of the literature, this paper evaluates the current use of risk assessment in criminal sentencing and discusses its consequences, both positive and negative.FindingsFour areas for improvement in the use of risk assessment in sentencing were identified. Recommendations for change are proposed.Practical implicationsWhile the use of risk assessment within the legal system has significantly increased over the past several decades, the incorporation of risk assessment in presentence proceedings is a relatively new practice. This paper provides readers with insight on the appropriateness of using risk assessment in this context and provides suggestions for reducing ethical concerns. Recommendations for increasing the validity and clinical utility of these instruments are also discussed.Originality/valueAlthough the literature on the use of risk assessment in legal proceedings is dense, relatively little is written about their use in criminal sentencing. This paper introduces readers to this concept by examining a risk measure proposed for use in the state of Pennsylvania’s presentence proceedings. The authors discuss concerns and propose recommendations for the future use of risk assessment in this setting.
Showing 1 to 8 of 8 Articles