Technology-facilitated abuse in relationships: The use of story-completion method to engage those using harmful tech behaviours

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Presenters: Dr Renee Fiolet, Dr Cynthia Brown, Dr Dana McKay and Associate Professor Bridget Harris

Technology-facilitated Abuse in Relationships (TAR) is a widespread social problem that has a significant impact on victim-survivors.

Most contemporary evidence on TAR focuses on victim-survivor and practitioner perspectives rather than perpetrators motivations for choosing this form of abuse. This study aimed to explore perpetrators’ discourses on emotions and motivations associated with engaging in TAR. Using story-completion method, 35 self-identified perpetrators of TAR completed story stems describing scenarios that may precede the use of abusive online behaviours.

Presenters will discuss the recruitment and engagement of those using technology in harmful ways to the study and disseminate results. Strengths and limitations of using story completion methods will be explored prior to the identification of a series of practice, policy and research recommendations being discussed.

This event is presented by Melbourne Social Equity Institute and the Melbourne Research Alliance to End Violence against women and their children (MAEVe).