title: Understanding perceptions of severity and reporting of child-to-parent family violence

authors: O'Keeffe, Bridget

subjects: Psychology

abstract: It is widely understood that family violence (FV) is underreported, and research — predominantly on intimate partner violence (IPV) — suggests that the perceived severity of FV is one of the many factors important in decisions about whether to report to police. Previous research has identified several factors that affect perceptions of IPV severity (e.g., gender, type of harm, and history of violence), and the types of appraisals that contribute to perceived severity (e.g., victim fear and hurt, the harmfulness, aggressiveness, ordinariness and justifiability of aggressor behaviour; and victim responsibility for aggressor behaviour). But less is known about factors that contribute to perceptions of severity and reporting decisions for other types of FV, including child-to-parent violence (CPV), where children are the aggressors against their parents.  
Therefore, the overarching aim of this thesis was to gain a better understanding of whether perceived severity is associated with the likelihood of reporting CPV, and to identify factors that may affect the perceived severity of CPV. We set out to achieve this aim with two survey studies. In the first study, we examined whether participants’ perceptions of CPV severity were related to the likelihood they would report CPV to the police, and analysed the effect of aggressor gender and developmental stage, and parent gender on perceptions of severity. The results indicated that perceived severity was moderately associated with participants’ likelihood of reporting CPV, and that parent gender — rather than aggressor gender or developmental stage — affected those perceptions of CPV severity.
In the second study we set out to identify the appraisals that may contribute to perceptions severity and investigate the effect of context about previous use of CPV on perceived severity. We found that perceptions of severity appeared to consist of judgements about the extent to which the victim was impacted by the aggressor’s harmful behaviour, with the items for victim fear and hurt, the harmfulness and aggressiveness of aggressor behaviour, and severity forming a coherent index for perceived severity. We also found that overall, context about previous use of CPV did not affect the perceived severity of CPV. Taken together, the findings presented in this thesis have contributed to the growing body of research on CPV, as well as furthering our understanding of factors related to perceived severity and reporting decisions for FV in general. The results could be used to inform efforts to increase FV reporting to police and improve the support offered to families experiencing CPV.

text: Understanding perceptions of severity and reporting of child-to-parent family violence It is widely understood that family violence (FV) is underreported, and research — predominantly on intimate partner violence (IPV) — suggests that the perceived severity of FV is one of the many factors important in decisions about whether to report to police. Previous research has identified several factors that affect perceptions of IPV severity (e.g., gender, type of harm, and history of violence), and the types of appraisals that contribute to perceived severity (e.g., victim fear and hurt, the harmfulness, aggressiveness, ordinariness and justifiability of aggressor behaviour; and victim responsibility for aggressor behaviour). But less is known about factors that contribute to perceptions of severity and reporting decisions for other types of FV, including child-to-parent violence (CPV), where children are the aggressors against their parents.  
Therefore, the overarching aim of this thesis was to gain a better understanding of whether perceived severity is associated with the likelihood of reporting CPV, and to identify factors that may affect the perceived severity of CPV. We set out to achieve this aim with two survey studies. In the first study, we examined whether participants’ perceptions of CPV severity were related to the likelihood they would report CPV to the police, and analysed the effect of aggressor gender and developmental stage, and parent gender on perceptions of severity. The results indicated that perceived severity was moderately associated with participants’ likelihood of reporting CPV, and that parent gender — rather than aggressor gender or developmental stage — affected those perceptions of CPV severity.
In the second study we set out to identify the appraisals that may contribute to perceptions severity and investigate the effect of context about previous use of CPV on perceived severity. We found that perceptions of severity appeared to consist of judgements about the extent to which the victim was impacted by the aggressor’s harmful behaviour, with the items for victim fear and hurt, the harmfulness and aggressiveness of aggressor behaviour, and severity forming a coherent index for perceived severity. We also found that overall, context about previous use of CPV did not affect the perceived severity of CPV. Taken together, the findings presented in this thesis have contributed to the growing body of research on CPV, as well as furthering our understanding of factors related to perceived severity and reporting decisions for FV in general. The results could be used to inform efforts to increase FV reporting to police and improve the support offered to families experiencing CPV.

year: 2024

title: The complexity of judgment in the everyday work of educators

authors: Earl Rinehart, (Suzanne) Kerry

abstract: We experience judgment in everyday life: the process and the outcome, making and receiving. In this piece, I turn to John Dewey’s notions on how judgments are situational, interpretive, (con)temporary, active, and relational. Contrary to everyday connotations of the word judgment, Dewey reminds us that judgment is more contingent than propositional. The aim of this piece is to re-consider our understanding of judgment in everyday educational work. Crafted from a range of sources, anecdotes are alternated with statements about judgment in the work of school principals and teachers, one to illustrate the other. The form chosen for this project echoes that of Ron Pelias’s 1994 piece on performance in everyday discourse.

text: The complexity of judgment in the everyday work of educators We experience judgment in everyday life: the process and the outcome, making and receiving. In this piece, I turn to John Dewey’s notions on how judgments are situational, interpretive, (con)temporary, active, and relational. Contrary to everyday connotations of the word judgment, Dewey reminds us that judgment is more contingent than propositional. The aim of this piece is to re-consider our understanding of judgment in everyday educational work. Crafted from a range of sources, anecdotes are alternated with statements about judgment in the work of school principals and teachers, one to illustrate the other. The form chosen for this project echoes that of Ron Pelias’s 1994 piece on performance in everyday discourse.

year: 2019

title: Renewal and resistance: Moko in contemporary New Zealand

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: maori

abstract: Moko is still here, contrary to the widely held belief that the art and custom of moko-Maori skin adornment-had vanished from New Zealand communities. Over the last two decades an increasingly visible number of Maori have revived and renewed the practice, taking colour into their skin. As an indigenous people, re-taking moko confronts and refutes the myth of a 'dying race'. It calls on Maori to recommit to strong Maori identities, customs and traditions and challenges the viewer to re-examine their social representations of moko and moko wearers. This paper reports the resistance strategies of a group of 83 moko wearers. Strategies include (1) educating, representing and reconstructing; (2) invalidating and minimizing representations; (3) building and enhancing social networks; and (4) securing cultural identity and pride. They reflect the celebration of cultural resilience.

text: Renewal and resistance: Moko in contemporary New Zealand Moko is still here, contrary to the widely held belief that the art and custom of moko-Maori skin adornment-had vanished from New Zealand communities. Over the last two decades an increasingly visible number of Maori have revived and renewed the practice, taking colour into their skin. As an indigenous people, re-taking moko confronts and refutes the myth of a 'dying race'. It calls on Maori to recommit to strong Maori identities, customs and traditions and challenges the viewer to re-examine their social representations of moko and moko wearers. This paper reports the resistance strategies of a group of 83 moko wearers. Strategies include (1) educating, representing and reconstructing; (2) invalidating and minimizing representations; (3) building and enhancing social networks; and (4) securing cultural identity and pride. They reflect the celebration of cultural resilience.

year: 2007