Young People’s Perceptions of Technology-Facilitated Coercive Control: The Effects of Frequency of Behaviour and Impact on the Victim
Tracks
Room 3: In-Person Only
| Tuesday, November 26, 2024 |
| 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM |
| Room 3 |
Overview
Maria Atienzar Prieto, Griffith University
Speaker
Ms Maria Atienzar Prieto
Phd Candidate
Griffith University
Young People’s Perceptions of Technology-Facilitated Coercive Control: The Effects of Frequency of Behaviour and Impact on the Victim
Abstract
As technology becomes more embedded in daily life, research shows an increasing misuse of digital devices by perpetrators of coercive control. While the role of technology in the broader context of dating violence has been extensively studied, little is known about young people’s attitudes and perceptions of technology-facilitated coercive control (TFCC).
Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate how contextual factors associated with coercive controlling dynamics influence young people’s perceptions of various digital behaviours. This presentation draws on the findings of a randomised vignette study conducted with young people aged 16 to 25 years. Participants (N = 1,012) read four different fictional scenarios, each depicting a different form of technology-facilitated abuse (i.e., pressuring a partner to send a nude, sending humiliating messages via text, checking a partner’s phone without their consent, and constantly texting a partner and making them feel threatened when the messages are ignored). Two factors were randomised: a) frequency of the behaviour (low vs high), and b) impact on the victim (low vs high). Results showed that young people perceived the behaviours described in the stories as more harmful and less acceptable when they occurred frequently and when they had a higher negative impact on the victim. However, repeatedly texting a partner was only regarded as harmful and unacceptable when the behaviour had an impact on the victim. These findings highlight the importance of contextual factors (i.e., frequency and impact of behaviours) in young people’s assessments of TFCC. Drawing on these results, this presentation discusses how strategies aimed at promoting healthy relationships and addressing problematic attitudes and perceptions for the prevention of TFCC should consider not only the specific behaviours involved but also the broader context in which they occur.
Key Learnings:
1. Young people's perceptions of technology-facilitated coercive control (TFCC) are significantly shaped by the frequency of the behaviours involved and their impact on the victim.
2. The influence of contextual factors on young people's perceptions varies depending on the type of technology-facilitated behaviour.
3. Prevention strategies for TFCC should address not only the specific digital behaviours involved in abusive relationships but also the broader context in which these harmful behaviours occur, considering both the dynamics and the impacts within relationships.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate how contextual factors associated with coercive controlling dynamics influence young people’s perceptions of various digital behaviours. This presentation draws on the findings of a randomised vignette study conducted with young people aged 16 to 25 years. Participants (N = 1,012) read four different fictional scenarios, each depicting a different form of technology-facilitated abuse (i.e., pressuring a partner to send a nude, sending humiliating messages via text, checking a partner’s phone without their consent, and constantly texting a partner and making them feel threatened when the messages are ignored). Two factors were randomised: a) frequency of the behaviour (low vs high), and b) impact on the victim (low vs high). Results showed that young people perceived the behaviours described in the stories as more harmful and less acceptable when they occurred frequently and when they had a higher negative impact on the victim. However, repeatedly texting a partner was only regarded as harmful and unacceptable when the behaviour had an impact on the victim. These findings highlight the importance of contextual factors (i.e., frequency and impact of behaviours) in young people’s assessments of TFCC. Drawing on these results, this presentation discusses how strategies aimed at promoting healthy relationships and addressing problematic attitudes and perceptions for the prevention of TFCC should consider not only the specific behaviours involved but also the broader context in which they occur.
Key Learnings:
1. Young people's perceptions of technology-facilitated coercive control (TFCC) are significantly shaped by the frequency of the behaviours involved and their impact on the victim.
2. The influence of contextual factors on young people's perceptions varies depending on the type of technology-facilitated behaviour.
3. Prevention strategies for TFCC should address not only the specific digital behaviours involved in abusive relationships but also the broader context in which these harmful behaviours occur, considering both the dynamics and the impacts within relationships.
Biography
María Atiénzar Prieto, is a PhD candidate at the School of Health Sciences and Social Work at Griffith University. Her research focuses on different aspects of intimate partner violence, including its nature, impacts on adult and child victim-survivors, and how people perceive different aspects related to abuse in intimate relationships. She is particularly interested on technology-facilitated coercive control among young people with a focus on how they perceive and understand this form of abuse.
