Policing Through Empathy - Exploring Conversations Between Police and Perpetrators of Partner Violence and Stalking
(2025) CCRM20 20251Sociology
- Abstract
- This study is based on the crime preventive initiative by the Western Copenhagen Police, which aims at reducing domestic violence through preventive conversations. This thesis explores the narratives of male perpetrators of either Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or stalking who have been contacted through this initiative. Two data types are used: recorded conversations between the police and perpetrators and semi-structured interviews with perpetrators. The analysis explores how the perpetrators negotiate their positions during and after preventive conversations and how their narratives shape their identity and are influenced by these conversations. Presser’s (2009) narrative theory, Connell’s (1995) concept of hegemonic masculinity, and... (More)
- This study is based on the crime preventive initiative by the Western Copenhagen Police, which aims at reducing domestic violence through preventive conversations. This thesis explores the narratives of male perpetrators of either Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or stalking who have been contacted through this initiative. Two data types are used: recorded conversations between the police and perpetrators and semi-structured interviews with perpetrators. The analysis explores how the perpetrators negotiate their positions during and after preventive conversations and how their narratives shape their identity and are influenced by these conversations. Presser’s (2009) narrative theory, Connell’s (1995) concept of hegemonic masculinity, and Ebaugh’s (1988) concept of role exit are used to strengthen the analytic points.
The results show that masculine gender norms influence how male perpetrators perceive their access to support and are used to deflect blame and maintain a positive self-image. While some perpetrators partly acknowledge their use of violence or stalking, they often shift responsibility onto their partner/or other, systemic misinterpretation or substance use. Additionally, being reported to the police is experienced as a threat to the perpetrators’ identity, while social support emerges as a key factor in both their coping strategies and their willingness to receive professional support. As a consequence, when male perpetrators are met with an empathetic approach from the police, offered specialized support services, or asked curious and open-ended questions, hesitation and reflection begin to emerge in their otherwise rigid narratives. When their masculine narrative is challenged, it creates space for a more emotionally orientated conversation. By understanding these narratives and how they can be questioned, interventions can be tailored to gently confront the men’s self-victimization narrative and encourage reflection on responsibility. This aims to strengthen the support that helps men break the cycle of violence. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- The safety of women is prominent in the political and crime-preventive debate. This has led to a broader focus on crime prevention. This involves a greater emphasis on the perpetrators and helping them break the cycle of violence. But how is this applied in practice? This qualitative study is based on the crime preventive initiative from the Western Copenhagen Police and their efforts to prevent domestic violence through preventive conversations. This thesis will explore how perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking have experienced the initiative and how they talk about themselves, their behavior, and their motivations to accept support. The study findings are based on preventive conversations between the police and... (More)
- The safety of women is prominent in the political and crime-preventive debate. This has led to a broader focus on crime prevention. This involves a greater emphasis on the perpetrators and helping them break the cycle of violence. But how is this applied in practice? This qualitative study is based on the crime preventive initiative from the Western Copenhagen Police and their efforts to prevent domestic violence through preventive conversations. This thesis will explore how perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking have experienced the initiative and how they talk about themselves, their behavior, and their motivations to accept support. The study findings are based on preventive conversations between the police and perpetrators and semi-structured interviews to study the perpetrator’s narrative.
The results show that the men involved use their gender (male) to explain their limited experiences with and perceived access to support. Further, masculinity is used to present a narrative of being in control and reasonable. They express that the (reported) stalking or violence is caused by their partners/others, by the police misinterpreting their case, or by their use of substances. They use these factors to avoid personal blame and protect their positive self- image. Most of the men struggle to connect the criminal label with their identity, and they express feelings of stigma and experience social consequences, which result in strong emotions. The men describe social support as essential for them to feel better and to cope with the difficult situation of being reported to the police.
How can speaking with perpetrators be used as a preventive tool? When the police use an empathetic tone, when the men join specialized support offers, and/or are met with open-ended questions, it becomes easier for them to talk about their emotions and voice their desire for help. In these conversations, the men sometimes show how they reflected on or departed shortly from their gender preconceptions or thoughts about responsibility. By understanding how male perpetrators talk about and understand themselves, crime prevention inventions can, besides opening up for more emotional conversation, also be tailored to gently confront the men’s stories of being victims and encourage them to reflect upon their responsibility. This may provide both emotional support and help them to change their negative behavior. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9203730
- author
- Blem, Maria LU
- supervisor
-
- Erik Hannerz LU
- organization
- course
- CCRM20 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Crime prevention, Perpetrator, IPV, Stalking, Masculinity, Narratives, Turning- points
- language
- English
- id
- 9203730
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-23 22:03:27
- date last changed
- 2025-06-23 22:03:27
@misc{9203730,
abstract = {{This study is based on the crime preventive initiative by the Western Copenhagen Police, which aims at reducing domestic violence through preventive conversations. This thesis explores the narratives of male perpetrators of either Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or stalking who have been contacted through this initiative. Two data types are used: recorded conversations between the police and perpetrators and semi-structured interviews with perpetrators. The analysis explores how the perpetrators negotiate their positions during and after preventive conversations and how their narratives shape their identity and are influenced by these conversations. Presser’s (2009) narrative theory, Connell’s (1995) concept of hegemonic masculinity, and Ebaugh’s (1988) concept of role exit are used to strengthen the analytic points.
The results show that masculine gender norms influence how male perpetrators perceive their access to support and are used to deflect blame and maintain a positive self-image. While some perpetrators partly acknowledge their use of violence or stalking, they often shift responsibility onto their partner/or other, systemic misinterpretation or substance use. Additionally, being reported to the police is experienced as a threat to the perpetrators’ identity, while social support emerges as a key factor in both their coping strategies and their willingness to receive professional support. As a consequence, when male perpetrators are met with an empathetic approach from the police, offered specialized support services, or asked curious and open-ended questions, hesitation and reflection begin to emerge in their otherwise rigid narratives. When their masculine narrative is challenged, it creates space for a more emotionally orientated conversation. By understanding these narratives and how they can be questioned, interventions can be tailored to gently confront the men’s self-victimization narrative and encourage reflection on responsibility. This aims to strengthen the support that helps men break the cycle of violence.}},
author = {{Blem, Maria}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Policing Through Empathy - Exploring Conversations Between Police and Perpetrators of Partner Violence and Stalking}},
year = {{2025}},
}