A Multi-Theoretical Framework to Assess Gendered Stalking Victimization: The Utility of Self-Control, Social Learning, and Control Balance Theories

Despite recent advancements in the criminological study of stalking, few theoretical tests have been conducted to date to explain stalking victimization among men and women separately. The current study individually and simultaneously extends three criminological theories to the study of stalking victimization: self-control, social learning, and control balance theories. Among a sample of 2,766 university students, a series of models were estimated for men and women separately to assess each set of theoretical variables net of control variables. Results reveal consistent significant positive relationships between stalking victimization and low self-control for men; differential peer association (e.g. friends are stalking victims) for men and women; and several social learning variables for only women. However, the control imbalance variables do not explain stalking victimization among men or women, net of other theoretical and control variables. The utility of a multi-theoretical approach to future stalking victimization research is discussed.

[1]  Yvonne Neudorf,et al.  A General Theory Of Crime , 2016 .

[2]  Anja Walter,et al.  Deviant Behavior A Social Learning Approach , 2016 .

[3]  Matt R. Nobles,et al.  Protection Against Pursuit: A Conceptual and Empirical Comparison of Cyberstalking and Stalking Victimization Among a National Sample , 2014 .

[4]  Travis C. Pratt,et al.  “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop”: Self-Control, Risky Lifestyles, and Repeat Victimization , 2012, Journal of Quantitative Criminology.

[5]  Kevin A. Wright,et al.  SELF‐CONTROL AND VICTIMIZATION: A META‐ANALYSIS , 2014 .

[6]  Matt R. Nobles,et al.  Assessing Stalking Behaviors in a Control Balance Theory Framework , 2013 .

[7]  Fawn T. Ngo,et al.  Stalking, Gender, and Coping Strategies: A Partial Test of Broidy and Agnew's Gender/General Strain Theory Hypotheses , 2013 .

[8]  J. Langhinrichsen-Rohling.  Gender and Stalking: Current Intersections and Future Directions , 2012 .

[9]  H. Sinclair,et al.  An Introduction to Issues of Gender in Stalking Research , 2012 .

[10]  Mick P. Couper,et al.  The Future of Modes of Data Collection , 2011 .

[11]  Bonnie S. Fisher,et al.  Being Pursued Online , 2011 .

[12]  Cortney A. Franklin.  An Investigation of the Relationship between Self-Control and Alcohol-Induced Sexual Assault Victimization , 2011 .

[13]  Hui Feifei.  ON THE VICTIMOLOGY , 2011 .

[14]  Matt R. Nobles,et al.  Method behind the madness: An examination of stalking measurements , 2011 .

[15]  Ronald L. Akers,et al.  Is stalking a learned phenomenon? An empirical test of social learning theory , 2011 .

[16]  Fawn T. Ngo,et al.  Cybercrime Victimization : An examination of Individual and Situational level factors , 2011 .

[17]  Matt R. Nobles,et al.  Look who's stalking: Obsessive pursuit and attachment theory , 2010 .

[18]  R. Acierno,et al.  Prevalence and correlates of emotional, physical, sexual, and financial abuse and potential neglect in the United States: the National Elder Mistreatment Study. , 2010, American journal of public health.

[19]  Matt R. Nobles,et al.  Career Dimensions of Stalking Victimization and Perpetration , 2009 .

[20]  Angela R. Gover,et al.  The Effects of Low Self-Control and Childhood Maltreatment on Stalking Victimization among Men and Women , 2009 .

[21]  Michael D. Reisig,et al.  Perceived Risk of Internet Theft Victimization , 2009 .

[22]  Kevin M. Beaver,et al.  Genetic influences on the stability of low self-control: Results from a longitudinal sample of twins , 2008 .

[23]  Xiaohe Xu,et al.  Self-Control, Intimate Partner Abuse, and Intimate Partner Victimization: Testing the General Theory of Crime in Thailand , 2008 .

[24]  Michael D. Reisig,et al.  LOW SELF‐CONTROL, ROUTINE ACTIVITIES, AND FRAUD VICTIMIZATION* , 2008 .

[25]  P. Chisnall.  Mail and Internet Surveys: The Tailored Design Method , 2007, Journal of Advertising Research.

[26]  Stephen W. Baron,et al.  Street Youth Crime: A Test of Control Balance Theory , 2007 .

[27]  Stephen W. Baron,et al.  Self-control, risky lifestyles, and situation: The role of opportunity and context in the general theory , 2007 .

[28]  Carter Hay,et al.  The development of self-control: Examining self-control theory's stability thesis. , 2006 .

[29]  Bonnie S. Fisher,et al.  Self-control, Victimization, and their Influence on Risky Lifestyles: A Longitudinal Analysis Using Panel Data , 2006 .

[30]  Alex R. Piquero,et al.  Control balance and exploitative corporate crime , 2006 .

[31]  Ronald L. Akers,et al.  The Empirical Status of Social Learning Theory of Crime and Deviance: The Past, Present, and Future , 2006 .

[32]  Theodore R. Curry.  Integrating Motivating and Constraining Forces in Deviance Causation: A Test of Causal Chain Hypotheses in Control Balance Theory , 2005 .

[33]  George E. Higgins,et al.  Control Balance Theory and Violence: An Examination of Contingencies , 2005 .

[34]  Emma Tonin.  The attachment styles of stalkers , 2004 .

[35]  Charles R. Tittle,et al.  Refining control balance theory , 2004 .

[36]  George E. Higgins,et al.  Control balance theory and exploitation: an examination of contingencies , 2004 .

[37]  Michael D. Kaplowitz,et al.  A Comparison of Web and Mail Survey Response Rates , 2004 .

[38]  Bonnie S. Fisher,et al.  The social context of violent victimization: A study of the delinquent peer effect , 2004 .

[39]  Kirk W. Elifson,et al.  Integrating the general theory of crime into an explanation of violent victimization among female offenders , 2004 .

[40]  Bernd Marcus,et al.  Self-Control in the General Theory of Crime: , 2004 .

[41]  Sylvia Walby,et al.  Domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking: Findings from the British Crime Survey , 2004 .

[42]  How families and communities influence youth victimization , 2003 .

[43]  A. Piquero,et al.  Control Ratios and Defiant Acts of Deviance: Assessing Additive and Conditional Effects with Constraints and Impulsivity , 2003 .

[44]  Alex R. Piquero,et al.  Extending Tittle's Control Balance Theory to Account for Victimization , 2003 .

[45]  J. J. Haugaard,et al.  Stalking and Other Forms of Intrusive Contact After the Dissolution of Adolescent Dating or Romantic Relationships , 2003, Violence and Victims.

[46]  Keith E. Davis,et al.  Stalking and Psychological Abuse: Common Factors and Relationship-Specific Characteristics , 2003, Violence and Victims.

[47]  Francis T. Cullen,et al.  BEING PURSUED: STALKING VICTIMIZATION IN A NATIONAL STUDY OF COLLEGE WOMEN* , 2002 .

[48]  Richard A. Wright,et al.  A study of individual and situational antecedents of violent victimization , 2002 .

[49]  Andy Hochstetler,et al.  An exploratory assessment of tittle's control balance theory: Results from the national youth survey , 2002 .

[50]  Alex R. Piquero,et al.  Applying Tittle’s control balance theory to police deviance , 2001 .

[51]  Alex R. Piquero,et al.  Applying Rasch modeling to the validity of a control balance scale , 2001 .

[52]  Matthew Hickman, Alex Piquero.  exploring the relationships between gender, control balance, and deviance , 2001 .

[53]  M. Couper,et al.  Web Surveys , 2001 .

[54]  W. Fremouw,et al.  An investigation of the psychological characteristics of stalkers: empathy, problem-solving, attachment and borderline personality features. , 2001, Journal of forensic sciences.

[55]  T. Pratt,et al.  THE EMPIRICAL STATUS OF GOTTFREDSON AND HIRSCHI'S GENERAL THEORY OF CRIME: A META‐ANALYSIS , 2000 .

[56]  Velmer S. Burton,et al.  Gender and Crime among Felony Offenders: Assessing the Generality of Social Control and Differential Association Theories , 2000 .

[57]  M. Couper.  A REVIEW OF ISSUES AND APPROACHES , 2000 .

[58]  B Bjerregaard,et al.  An Empirical Study of Stalking Victimization , 2000, Violence and Victims.

[59]  M. Brewster,et al.  Stalking by Former Intimates: Verbal Threats and Other Predictors of Physical Violence , 2000, Violence and Victims.

[60]  K. Davis,et al.  Stalking Perpetrators and Psychological Maltreatment of Partners: Anger-Jealousy, Attachment Insecurity, Need for Control, and Break-Up Context , 2000, Violence and Victims.

[61]  R. Akers,et al.  Social Learning and Social Structure: A General Theory of Crime and Deviance. , 2000 .

[62]  Jan M. Chaiken,et al.  The Sexual Victimization of College Women , 2000 .

[63]  Christopher J. Schreck.  Criminal victimization and low self-control: An extension and test of a general theory of crime , 1999 .

[64]  C. R. Tittle,et al.  Continuing the Discussion of Control Balance , 1999 .

[65]  Alex R. Piquero,et al.  AN EMPIRICAL TEST OF TITTLE'S CONTROL BALANCE THEORY* , 1999 .

[66]  Richard Tewksbury,et al.  A Routine Activity Theory Explanation for Women's Stalking Victimizations , 1999, Violence against Women.

[67]  K. Sheehan.  Response Variation in E-Mail Surveys: An Exploration , 1999 .

[68]  A. Piquero,et al.  USING THE CORRECT STATISTICAL TEST FOR THE EQUALITY OF REGRESSION COEFFICIENTS , 1998 .

[69]  Mark Warr,et al.  Explaining the Gender Gap in Delinquency: Peer Influence and Moral Evaluations of Behavior , 1998 .

[70]  Nancy Thoennes,et al.  Stalking in America : findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey , 1998 .

[71]  R. Gregory Dunaway,et al.  An Application of Control Balance Theory to Incarcerated Sex Offenders , 1998 .

[72]  J R Meloy,et al.  A comparative study of psychotic and nonpsychotic stalking. , 1997, The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.

[73]  W. Fremouw,et al.  Stalking on campus: the prevalence and strategies for coping with stalking. , 1997, Journal of forensic sciences.

[74]  Charles R. Tittle.  Thoughts Stimulated by Braithwaite's Analysis of Control Balance Theory , 1997 .

[75]  P E Mullen,et al.  The impact of stalkers on their victims , 1997, British Journal of Psychiatry.

[76]  Brent G. Dennis,et al.  Sex-Related Offenses and Fear of Crime on Campus , 1996 .

[77]  Ngaire Naffine,et al.  Feminism and criminology , 1996 .

[78]  Charles R. Tittle,et al.  Control Balance: Toward A General Theory Of Deviance , 1995 .

[79]  Harold G. Grasmick,et al.  Testing the Core Empirical Implications of Gottfredson and Hirschi's General Theory of Crime , 1993 .

[80]  Terance D. Miethe,et al.  Understanding Theories of Criminal Victimization , 1993, Crime and Justice.

[81]  佐竹 元一郎,et al.  Applied Linear Statistical Models--Regression,Analysis of Variance,and Experimental Designs 3rd ed./John Neter et al.(1990) , 1991 .

[82]  R. Paternoster,et al.  The Gender Gap in Theories of Deviance: Issues and Evidence , 1987 .

[83]  A. Eagly.  Sex differences in social behavior : a social-role interpretation , 1987 .

[84]  Robert J. Sampson,et al.  Neighborhood and Crime: The Structural Determinants of Personal Victimization , 1985 .

[85]  Gary LaFree,et al.  Sexual Assault and Its Prosecution: A Comparison with Other Crimes , 1982 .

[86]  Lawrence E. Cohen,et al.  Social Change and Crime Rate Trends: A Routine Activity Approach , 1979 .

[87]  Michael R. Gottfredson,et al.  Victims of Personal Crime: An Empirical Foundation for a Theory of Personal Victimization , 1977 .

[88]  J. Neter,et al.  Applied linear statistical models : regression, analysis of variance, and experimental designs , 1974 .

[89]  Robert L. Akers,et al.  A Differential Association-Reinforcement Theory of Criminal Behavior , 1966 .

[90]  Hans von Hentig,et al.  Remarks on the Interaction of Perpetrator and Victim , 1940 .