Understanding revenge pornography: public perceptions of revenge pornography and victim blaming

Purpose: The disclosure of private images with the intent of causing distress is often described as ‘revenge pornography’. In the UK, this newly legislated crime has received a high level of media attention following several high profile cases, however there is a paucity of research in this area. Methods: 168 adults (UK general public) completed an online survey using a vignette approach. Views of the influence of perpetrator-victim relationship length and reason for termination were considered alongside perception of an offence, the necessity of police intervention, what extent revenge pornography creates psychological harm in victims, and victim blaming. Findings: Perpetrator-victim relationship length and reason for relationship breakdown did not influence perceptions of victim blame. Participants believed that the situation described in the vignettes was likely to be an offence, and that police intervention is somewhat necessary. Participants believed that the scenario was ‘very likely’ to create fear, and ‘moderately likely’ to create psychological/mental harm in victims. In line with the literature relating to stalking and sexual assault, men blamed the victim significantly more than women. Furthermore, women rated police intervention significantly more necessary than men. Implications: The public are recognising that revenge pornography is an offence, with consequences being fear and psychological harm, showing an awareness of the impact on victims. However, there are sex differences in the perceptions of revenge pornography and victim blame and this could be addressed by raising awareness of this crime. This research, which highlights that the public are aware of some of the harm caused, may encourage victims in coming forward to report such a crime. Originality: There is a paucity of research into revenge pornography, and this study is one of the first in this area

The influence of contextual information regarding the breakdown of relationships and perpetrator-target sex composition on perceptions of relational stalking

The present study examines the influence of prior relationship (with contextual information regarding the breakdown of the relationship) and perpetrator-target sex composition on perceptions of relational stalking. The study employed an experimental 7 × 2 independent measures design, and the sample comprised 1,260 members of the community residing in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Participants received one of 14 versions of a hypothetical scenario and responded to scale items concerning the situation described. The situation was perceived to be most serious when the perpetrator was a stranger or a physically violent ex-partner and least serious when the perpetrator was an ex-partner of an unfaithful target. Scenarios involving a male perpetrator and a female victim were also perceived to be more serious than scenarios involving a female perpetrator and a male target. It is apparent therefore that the context of the relationship breakdown and the sex of the perpetrator and target significantly influence perceptions of relational stalking

Electronic and magnetic structure of epitaxial Fe3O4(001)/NiO heterostructures grown on MgO(001) and Nb-doped SrTiO3(001)

Kuepper K, Kuschel O, Pathé N, et al. Electronic and magnetic structure of epitaxial Fe3O4(001)/NiO heterostructures grown on MgO(001) and Nb-doped SrTiO3(001). Physical Review B. 2016;94(2): 024401.We study the underlying chemical, electronic, and magnetic properties of a number of magnetite-based thin films. The main focus is placed onto Fe3O4(001)/NiO bilayers grown on MgO(001) and Nb-SrTiO3(001) substrates. We compare the results with those obtained on pure Fe3O4(001) thin films. It is found that the magnetite layers are oxidized and Fe3+ dominates at the surfaces due to maghemite (γ−Fe2O3) formation, which decreases with increasing magnetite layer thickness. For layer thicknesses of around 20 nm and above, the cationic distribution is close to that of stoichiometric Fe3O4. At the interface between NiO and Fe3O4 we find the Ni to be in a divalent valence state, with unambiguous spectral features in the Ni 2p core level x-ray photoelectron spectra typical for NiO. The formation of a significant NiFe2O4 interlayer can be excluded by means of x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. Magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements reveal significant higher coercive fields compared to magnetite thin films grown on MgO(001), and an altered in-plane easy axis pointing in the ⟨100⟩ direction. We discuss the spin magnetic moments of the magnetite layers and find that a thickness of 20 nm or above leads to spin magnetic moments close to that of bulk magnetite

The decline and fall of the European film industry: sunk costs, market size, and market structure, 1890–1927

In the 1900s, the European film industry exported throughout the world, at times supplying half the US market. By 1920, however, European films had virtually disappeared from America, and had become marginal in Europe. Theory on sunk costs and market structure suggests that an escalation of sunk costs during a rapid US growth phase resulted in increased concentration; eight surviving companies dominated international film production and distribution forever after. European film companies, although overall profitable, could not take part, and after the war could not catch up. US, British, and French time series data for 1890–1930 support the theory