Kirsten Robertson

It Takes Two to Tangle: Gender Symmetry in Intimate Partner Violence

This study examined the equivalence of male and female intimate partner violence (IPV) across three samples of the New Zealand population (student, general, and incarcerated). Additionally, we compared the attitudes of victims and perpetrators. Findings revealed that although the incarcerated sample experienced a higher frequency of violence, the nature of IPV was similar across the samples. More importantly, our findings showed gender symmetry in IPV with male and female IPV being similar in frequency, severity, and injury. There was, however, some variation in the type of physical abuse acts perpetrated as a function of gender. Furthermore, victims and perpetrators reported similar attitudes and behaviors that differentiated them from participants with no history of physical violence. These included being more hostile, holding traditional gendered beliefs, and lacking communication and anger management skills. A rethinking of how we view IPV is recommended in light of these findings.

Experience, Emotion, and Eudaimonia: A Consideration of Tourist Experiences and Well-being

Experiential marketing and the quest to create memorable and extraordinary customer experiences have become central to tourism. However, implementing the concept of experiential marketing has been problematic due to a lack of knowledge regarding what makes experiences memorable, as well as inattention to the subjective and personal nature of experiences. This study explores the nature of individual experiences, particularly with regard to personal outcomes, emotions and meanings, by investigating tourists’ experiences of the same activity in three different consumption contexts. The influence of consumption context as well as significant differences in personal outcomes were evident, and more profound and meaningful than previous research suggests. Findings point to a need to understand tourist consumption experiences beyond hedonic enjoyment of the moment, and consider their broader implications on well-being and quality of life. Implications for tourism providers and experiential marketing are discussed.

Intimate Partner Violence: Linguistic Features and Accommodation Behavior of Perpetrators and Victims

The present study compared the communication behavior of individuals with and without histories of intimate partner violence (IPV). Specifically, the authors examined participants’ use of and accommodation toward facilitative and nonfacilitative language features as a function of their abuse histories. The findings revealed that perpetrators and victims of IPV used fewer facilitative and polite language features. Additionally, men with histories of IPV were more likely to use nonfacilitative language features. The examination of accommodation behavior revealed that perpetrators of psychological abuse were more likely to accommodate toward nonfacilitative language features and were less likely to accommodate toward facilitative language features. In all other instances, participants modified their speech toward the manipulated styles. In light of these findings, recommendations are made for IPV treatment initiatives.

Women and men's use of coercive control in intimate partner violence.

This study examined the relationship between coercive control and intimate partner violence (IPV) for men and women and for targets and perpetrators. One hundred and seventy-two participants (85 men, 87 women) recruited from three samples reported on their own and their partner’s behavior. IPV was measured using the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2). Coercive control was measured using modified items from the Psychological Maltreatment of Women Inventory (PMWI). Coercive control was associated with IPV, and this relationship was similar for men and women across the three samples. In fact, coercive control was predominantly reciprocal in nature, with women and men reporting both receiving and perpetrating controlling behaviors. Overall, coercive controlling behaviors were characteristic of individuals within violent relationships, regardless of their physical abuse status. The experience of violence, rather than gender, was the best predictor of coercive control.

An Empirical Investigation of Variations in Real‐Estate Marketing Language over a Market Cycle

Abstract The present study examines the language of residential property listings under different market conditions. Property listings in one of New Zealand’s most popular property magazines were examined over an eight year period, during which time both a buoyant and slower market were experienced. One magazine from the month of September for the years 2001–2008 was coded for the incidence of 13 variables. Findings revealed linguistic variations as a function of the market cycle. During a buoyant market listings referred to the speed with which properties were selling, encouraging buyers to hurry. Listings were also longer, more attention grabbing, and referred to more lifestyle features to differentiate properties during the crowded market. During a slower market properties were referred to as a “bargain” and more emotive language was employed to persuade potential home buyers. These findings suggest that Realtor advertising language varies in response to, and may even influence, the market.

Environmental influences on pre-schooler’s understanding of brand symbolism

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the factors influencing young children’s (aged three to five years) understanding of brand symbolism. Design/methodology/approach Multiple hierarchical regression was used to analyse the relationships between age, gender and environmental factors, including family and the media, on the development of brand symbolism in pre-school children based on 56 children and parent dyad interviews. Findings Results confirmed the primary influence of age, television exposure and parental communication style on three to five-year-old children’s understanding of brand symbolism. The study demonstrates that the tendency to infer symbolic user attributes and non-product-related associations with brands starts as early as two years, and increases with age throughout the pre-school years. Children exposed to more television and less critical parental consumer socialisation strategies are more likely to prefer branded products, believe that brands are better quality and that they make people happy and popular. Social implications Identifying the factors that influence the development of symbolic brand associations in pre-school children provides an important contribution to public policy discussions on the impact of marketing to young children. Originality/value The paper extends existing research by considering, for the first time, the role of environmental factors in pre-schooler’s understanding of brand symbolism. The results provide a more informed basis for discussion about the impact of marketing messages on very young children and the environmental factors that may lead to a more critical engagement with brands.

Perpetration of Alcohol-Related Aggression by Male and Female College Students: An Examination of Overt and Relational Aggression

Existing literature exemplifies the relationship between alcohol and overt aggression, especially for adult males. Less clear is the relationship between alcohol and aggression among male and female college students, in particular, the nature of this aggression and the co-occurrence of drinking and aggression on the same day (temporal proximity). This study examines the chronic and temporal nature of males’ and females’ alcohol-related aggression among college students. Two hundred fourteen students completed a web-based 7-day event-level survey measuring alcohol consumption and perpetration of physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, and relational aggression over 4 weeks, resulting in 4,256 observations (days). The global analysis revealed students who are heavy drinkers are more likely to perpetrate all four forms of aggression, whereas the event-level analysis revealed that specific forms of aggression are associated with drinking at the time, while other forms were not linked to drinking occasions. Cross-tabulation revealed males and females were more likely to use verbal and physical aggression when drinking. For females, drinking was also associated with relational aggression and anger. Despite often being overlooked in research on aggression during emerging adulthood, relational aggression was prevalent. Discrepancies between the global and temporal analysis revealed factors other than alcohol might explain the relationship between chronic alcohol consumption and specific forms of aggression. This is one of the first event-level studies to show the temporal relationship between alcohol and relational aggression. The distinctions in the current study, exemplifying the diversity of alcohol-related aggression, are critical for understanding aggressive behavior, potential gender differences, and for developing interventions. The temporal relationship between alcohol and aggression suggests health interventions should target drinking and aggression simultaneously.

Drinkers' perceived negative alcohol-related expectancies: informing alcohol warning messages

Abstract Background: Concerned groups are pressuring government bodies to implement warning labels. However, research informed label development is limited and current labels are generic, despite tobacco research revealing targeted messages are more effective. Expectancy research provides a platform to inform message development, however reliance on researcher-driven survey-dependent expectancies has limited findings. This study aims to extend expectancy theory and inform warning label development by identifying negative expectancies that are participant derived and salient to drinkers from specific segments. Method: A New Zealand sample involving 1168 drinkers (651 men) completed an online survey measuring their demographics, their drinking and self-reported negative alcohol expectancies. Thematic analysis resulted in 13 salient expectancies, and differences between segments were examined. Results: Chi-square analyses revealed: heavy drinkers and young adults were characterised by concerns for self (e.g. liver damage); lighter drinkers and older adults by expectancies that could harm others (e.g. violence); females reported greater concern than males with the majority of expectancies. Conclusion: Results extend alcohol expectancy theory by revealing negative expectancies that are salient to drinkers from specific segments. This study delivers the initial steps for systematically informing alcohol warning label development, by identifying expectancies that are likely to be integrated by drinkers.

Students Who Limit Their Drinking, as Recommended by National Guidelines, Are Stigmatized, Ostracized, or the Subject of Peer Pressure: Limiting Consumption Is All But Prohibited in a Culture of Intoxication:

There is an unquestionable need to address drinking patterns in subcultures where excessive drinking is normative. Regulatory bodies advocate moderating alcohol consumption but it is unclear whether individuals have agency to do so, particularly when excessive consumption is the norm. This study aimed to address this gap by examining student’s perceptions of limiting consumption, as recommended by government guidelines, in one university in New Zealand. Using a qualitative social science approach, university students surveyed and interviewed their heavy-drinking peers (n = 201) to investigate perceptions of 3 drinking behaviors (Heavy, Moderation, and Abstinence). Thematic analysis revealed that students who drink heavily are labeled positively and viewed as sociable (Dr Froth, Liver of Steel, Trooper, Champion, Hero, Good Alcoholic, popular, a friend). Students who limit drinking, on the other hand, were viewed similar to those who abstain, labeled using explicit, emotive, and derogative terminology (eg, Fag, Vagina, Grandma, Weirdo, Coward, Killjoy) and excluded, ostracized, or the subject of peer pressure. They were also expected to provide a justification for moderating their drinking (eg, being an athlete, broke). Although individuals who moderated their consumption were perceived to have strong willpower and maturity (eg, self-aware, brave, sophisticated), these positive attributes were mentioned less frequently and involved less emotive language than were labels linking moderation to a negative social identity. The method employed in this study provided a frank insight into a student culture of intoxication and the barriers facing students who try to drink in moderation. Our findings reveal that limiting consumption, even occasionally, threatens students’ social identity and inclusion in the student drinking culture. These results suggest that individualistic harm minimization strategies are unlikely to be effective. Instead, the findings underscore the need to develop alternative cultures emphasizing extracurricular activities which may facilitate students’ agency to go against the norm and moderate their drinking.

Supporting a sugar tax in New Zealand: Sugar sweetened beverage (‘fizzy drink’) consumption as a normal behaviour within the obesogenic environment

Background Excessive intake of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) is a preventable cause of death. While some countries have implemented a tax on SSBs, other countries, such as New Zealand, rely on industry self-regulation and individual responsibility, such as referring to labels, to control one’s own sugar intake from SSBs. The present study examines whether SSB consumers consciously control their diet and therefore interventions such as better labelling might be effective, or alternatively, whether SSB consumers engage in a general pattern of unhealthy eating, and in which case government regulation would be advisable. Aim To explore self-reported dietary consumption and conscious healthy eating behaviours of New Zealand consumers who had consumed SSBs over a 24 hour period. Method A cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 2007 New Zealanders, measuring their food and beverage intake over a 24 hour period and self-reported intentions to eat healthily. Within this was a measurement of SSB consumption in the 24 hour period. Results Multivariable logistic regression revealed that compared to non-SSB consumers, SSB consumers were more likely to have eaten the following: confectionery; fast food; pre-prepared food; biscuits, cakes or pastries; takeaways; ice-cream/dessert. SSB consumption was also associated with a lower likelihood of referring to food labels, less conscious effort to eat healthily, and to less likely to avoid: sugar; fat; calories; food additives; pre-prepared food. SSB consumers were also less likely to have eaten breakfast, or made a meal at home made from scratch. Conclusion SSB consumers were more likely than non-SSB consumers to demonstrate a general pattern of unhealthy eating and were less likely to report consciously controlling their diet. The findings raise significant concerns regarding the efficacy of individual and industry self-regulation and lend support to stronger government targeted interventions.