1. Unwanted Pursuit Behavior After Breakup: Occurrence, Risk Factors, and Gender Differences
- Author
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Ann Buysse, Olivia De Smet, Tom Loeys, Katarzyna Uzieblo, and Thomas Onraedt
- Subjects
Sociology and Political Science ,Psychometrics ,EMPATHY QUOTIENT ,Social Sciences ,Poison control ,Empathy quotient ,Separation ,NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY-INVENTORY ,PSYCHOMETRIC ANALYSIS ,FORMER PARTNERS ,Injury prevention ,Prevalence ,STALKING ,medicine ,Male and female ex-partners ,VALIDITY ,Determinants ,Stalking ,Narcissistic Personality Inventory ,Human factors and ergonomics ,MSI-BPD ,ATTACHMENT ,Stalking related behavior ,Clinical Psychology ,INFREQUENT OUTCOMES ,Same- and opposite-gender ex-partners ,Rumination ,COMMUNITY SAMPLE ,medicine.symptom ,Psychology ,Law ,Social Sciences (miscellaneous) ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
This study investigated unwanted pursuit behavior (UPB) perpetration in 631 adult ex-partners. UPB involves the unwanted pursuit of intimacy, a widespread and usually less severe form of stalking. The occurrence and various risk factors of UPB perpetration were examined, accounting for differences between male and female ex-partners and same- and opposite-gender ex-partners. Ex-partners showed on average five to six UPBs after their separation. Male and female and same- and opposite-gender ex-partners displayed an equal number of UPBs. The number of perpetrated UPBs was explained by breakup characteristics (ex-partner initiation of the breakup and rumination or cognitive preoccupation with the ex-partner), relationship characteristics (anxious attachment in the former relationship), and individual perpetrator characteristics (borderline traits and past delinquent behaviors). Rumination was a stronger predictor in female than male ex-partners. Borderline traits and anxious attachment positively predicted UPB perpetration in opposite-gender but not in same-gender ex-partners. Implications of these findings are discussed.
- Published
- 2015
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