The effect of perpetrator mental disorder diagnosis on perceptions of stalking

Sambrooks, Katie (2017) The effect of perpetrator mental disorder diagnosis on perceptions of stalking. MSc(Res) thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

Determining which behaviour warrants a label of stalking can be a difficult and subjective process. Previous studies considering the influence of perpetrator mental illness on perceptions of stalking have never specified a specific mental disorder (Kinkade, Burns, & Fuentes, 2005; Landwehr, 2016). The present study manipulated the disorder across vignettes so that the perpetrator was described as being diagnosed with depression, personality disorder, psychosis, substance misuse or had no history of mental illness. There was no significant effect of diagnosis on perceptions of whether the described behaviour constituted stalking or on perceptions of the likelihood of the target of the behaviour experiencing anxiety. However, perpetrator diagnosis did have a significant effect on perceptions of the likelihood of violence and of the perpetrator’s responsibility for their behaviour. Implications for criminal justice outcomes are discussed.

Item Type: Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (MSc(Res))
Supervisors: Duff, Simon
Keywords: Stalking; Mental illness; Diagnosis; Perception
Subjects: W Medicine and related subjects (NLM Classification) > WM Psychiatry
Faculties/Schools: UK Campuses > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Medicine
Item ID: 47554
Depositing User: Sambrooks, Katie
Date Deposited: 30 Apr 2018 13:57
Last Modified: 30 Apr 2018 15:54
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/47554

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