Risk Factors for Severe Violence in Intimate Partner Stalking Situations: An Analysis of Police Records

Abstract

Stalkers can be violent, and empirical studies have sought to identify factors associated with violence perpetrated by the stalker. Most of these works view physical violence as a homogenous construct, and do not differentiate between moderate and severe violence. The present study aims to identify correlates of non-violent, moderate, and severe physical violence within an archival sample of 369 domestically violent police incident reports, where stalking behavior was indicated. The incident reports utilized in this study occurred between 2013 and 2017, among intimate or ex-intimate partners. The present study explored twelve independent variables that have yielded mixed findings in previous stalking violence literature, as well as two previously untested factors of non-fatal strangulation and child contact. The police records were coded for severity of physical violence using the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale, and analysed using a Logistic Regression. The regression analysis revealed significant independent associations between the outcome variable of severe physical violence and child contact, history of domestic violence, separation, non-fatal strangulation, jealousy, previous injury, and victim belief of potential harm. These results may help to produce pragmatic recommendations for law enforcement agencies and other relevant bodies who seek to identify victims at risk of severe violence, increasing the potential for early intervention and prevention of physical harm. The awareness of factors that are shown to be related to serious physical violence may assist first responders in recognizing which victims may be at risk of serious harm, as well as effectively allocating any appropriate resources to reduce and prevent harm.

Predictors of Severe Intimate Partner Violence Among Antisocial and Family-Only Perpetrators: Victims’ and Offenders’ Characteristics

“…In the sample of the present study, many women (six out of 10) had decided to end the relationship, and some had filed a complaint against the abuser (three out of 10). Nevertheless, as the findings of this study reveal, S-IPV from antisocial aggressors hardly ever ends after the breakup; on the contrary, the antisocial aggressor usually increases his controlling behavior and stalking of the victim (Bendlin & Sheridan, 2019). In addition to the reasons cited above that contribute to a victim’s decision not to file a complaint against her aggressor (minimizing, guilt, and legal issues), the present study highlights the influence of the aggressor’s threats and coercive behaviors in making the victim withdraw the complaint, as Echeburúa et al (2008) pointed out in a prior study.…”

“…P. Johnson, 2008; Monckton-Smith, 2019). This may explain why some meta-analytic studies have found that controlling behaviors, jealousy, stalking, power display, and patriarchal beliefs are strong risk markers for S-IPV (Bendlin & Sheridan, 2019; Love et al, 2018; Spencer & Stith, 2018). Recent research has also identified other aggressor-related risk factors for S-IPV, such as an increase in the severity of the abuse, severe physical abuse, suicide threats or attempts (Campbell et al, 2009), degrading treatment, a breakdown of victim protection measures, aggressions against other relatives (Echeburúa et al, 2009), sexual assault or abuse, death threats, substance abuse, and mental disorders (Spencer & Stith, 2018).…”

“…Another factor that calls for consideration during risk assessment is that, on many occasions, violence does not cease when the relationship is over. On the contrary, the risk of S-IPV increases after marital separation (Bendlin & Sheridan, 2019; Messing et al, 2017), when the victim enters a new romantic relationship (Adinkrah, 2008), and when the victim files or withdraws a complaint against the aggressor (Adinkrah, 2008; Echeburúa et al, 2008). However, recent research has found that those victims at high risk of S-IPV who file a complaint are less likely to be further assaulted than those at low risk of S-IPV (López-Ossorio et al, 2019).…”

Understanding female-perpetrated stalking.

“…Among stalkers, acts of aggression and violence are estimated to occur in 25–50% of offences, although this rate is said to increase if the victim and offender had a prior intimate relationship (Bendlin & Sheridan, 2019; Farnham et al, 2000; Logan, 2020a; McEwan et al, 2017; Meloy, 1996; Meloy & Boyd, 2003; Meloy et al, 2011; Meloy & Gothard, 1995; Mullen et al, 2000; Purcell et al, 2001, 2010; Rosenfeld & Lewis, 2005; Strand & McEwan, 2012; Thompson et al, 2020). Studies have noted similar rates of violence across male- and female-adult stalkers (Purcell et al, 2001; Scott et al, 2015; Strand & McEwan, 2012) as well as among juvenile stalkers (Purcell et al, 2010).…”

“…Indeed, Strand and McEwan (2012) found that the combination of a prior intimate relationship, approach behaviors, and threats best predicted violence for both male and female stalkers. Other general risk factors for violence which hold true for female stalkers include an opposite-gender victim, explicit threats, previous criminal history or violent history, and dynamic factors such as substance abuse, triggering events, intentions, and opportunities (Bendlin & Sheridan, 2019; Farnham et al, 2000; Meloy, 2002; Meloy & Boyd, 2003; Meloy et al, 2011; Strand & McEwan, 2012; Thompson et al, 2020).…”