How bad is bad? Perceptual differences in the communication of severity in intimate partner violence

Abstract Accurate communication of the severity violence in intimate relations is essential for appropriate evaluation offenders and victims contexts such as court trials, custody cases, continuation relationships. Using a new paradigm, this study quantifies discrepancies how communicated texts written by offenders, victims, bystanders who witness violence. The was conducted two phases, where participants were randomly sampled from same population to participate either Phase 1 or 2. In first Phase, witnesses (narrators) provided nine narratives about self-experienced partner rated violence’s severity; then second non-witnesses (recipients) read all Four types perceptual differences (calibration, accuracy, gender, role differences) identified when rating three (psychological, physical, sexual) (victims, bystanders) heterosexual, romantic Several novel findings made related strong difference calibration, i.e., tendency recipient rate more severely than narrator, effect mainly found bystanders, but not offenders. Also, calibration largely seen sexual psychological, narratives. recipients’ accuracy considerably lower psychological rather Finally, validity method confirmed replicating earlier on roles women men, which especially true male raters. These results suggest systematic ratings may have substantial implications real-life settings. potentially be used ameliorate negative effects differences.