University Presentation Showcase: Undergraduate Poster Gallery
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Creation Date
Spring 2016
Major
Psychology
Department
Psychology
Degree
Undergraduate
Mentor
Richard Osbaldiston
Mentor Department
Psychology
Abstract
The purposes of this study were to investigate 1) the types of relationships that exist between stalkers and their victims and 2) the rates of violence in stalking cases. While stalking cases certainly are a subject of interest in many fields, variation in the results of previous studies makes it difficult to get accurate representation of stalking cases as a whole. The authors conducted a meta-analysis of 16 studies with a combined total of 3,385 individuals. It was found that most stalkers were someone the victim knew, with 42% being prior-intimate partners and 32% being acquaintances. Personal violence was present in 31% of stalking cases; rates of personal violence were higher in the prior-intimate subgroup at 52%. Law enforcement should keep these demographics in mind when investigating stalking cases when the harasser is not yet known and when determining a victim’s risk for harm.
