RT Article
T1 An Experimental Assessment of Third Parties as Potential Guardians: Victim Gender, Conflict, and Individual Perceptions of Social Situations
JF Journal of interpersonal violence
VO 36
IS 13/14
A1 Moule, Richard K.
A1 Powers, Ráchael A.
A2 Powers, Ráchael A.
LA English
YR 2021
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1760355003
AB The guardianship component of routine activity theory (RAT) remains underexamined. Recent research has emphasized “guardianship-in-action,” or the processes by which individuals evaluate potentially problematic situations. Research has also begun to identify conditions conducive to bystander intervention in troublesome situations, but has not been incorporated into the emerging literature on guardianship-in-action. The current study integrates these literatures to understand how individuals perceive problematic social situations by examining how victims’ gender influences guardians’ perceptions of social situations and willingness to intervene across conflicts. Using an experimental vignette design, and a sample of 370 American adults, respondents were randomly assigned to vignettes involving verbal and physical conflicts between two men or a man and a woman. A series of t tests, chi-square tests, and McNemar’s tests assessed mean differences in respondent perceptions. Situations in which victims are female were perceived as being more serious and requiring intervention. Situations involving interpersonal physical violence similarly elicit stronger concerns, and a greater willingness to intervene, from potential guardians. Theory and policy implications are discussed.
K1 experimental vignette methodology
K1 Routine Activity Theory
K1 bystander intervention
K1 guardianship-in-action
K1 Capable guardianship
DO 10.1177/0886260519827664