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A behavior sequence analysis of victims’ accounts of stalking behaviors
Journal article   Peer reviewed

A behavior sequence analysis of victims’ accounts of stalking behaviors

L. Quinn-Evans, D.A. Keatley, M. Arntfield and L. Sheridan
Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol.36(15-16), pp.6979-6997
2019
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Abstract

Stalking is a complex issue involving multiple behaviors and interactions between the stalker and their target. Research has typically involved grouping risk behaviors related to stalking; however, the research question in the current research was to what extent a temporal method would allow investigators to map the dynamics of stalking. Behavior Sequence Analysis is a form of systems analysis that examines sequences of events over time, providing statistically significant results from complex real-world data. The Behavior Sequence Analysis method was applied to 39 participants’ detailed accounts of stalking written in online forums. The study provides illustration of the antecedents of stalking and how it may initiate and develop through to end of contact. Both stalker behavior and decisions made by victim were included in the models. The results show multiple patterns of stalkers’ behaviors; however, the results also clearly show that victims need not perform many behaviors for stalkers to continue with their actions. A main finding was how many behavior transitions occurred before victims felt a significant problem. A large number of participants indicated that they (repeatedly) reported their case of stalking to police and authorities; however, they were mostly dismissed or felt that police did not stop the stalker’s actions. A major implication of the current research is providing a novel method to produce a framework that may be used to operationalize definitions of stalking based on coherent frameworks of stalkers’ behaviors over time.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Citation topics
6 Social Sciences
6.24 Psychiatry & Psychology
6.24.858 Intimate Partner Violence
Web Of Science research areas
Criminology & Penology
Family Studies
Psychology, Applied
ESI research areas
Social Sciences, general
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