Using Vignettes to Explore Nuance in Moral Judgement of Intimate Partner Violence Scenarios: A Situational Action Theory Approach

• In Event: Social relationships and crime: From social institutions to intimate partners

Abstract

This paper explores the novel use of vignettes within a Situational Action Theory (SAT) framework to examine Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Vignettes, used in a semi-structured interview setting, offer a nuanced method for analyzing moral judgment and decision-making in IPV scenarios. By presenting participants with hypothetical situations, this approach facilitates an in-depth exploration of how individuals assign moral judgments across diverse IPV behaviors.

A central focus of this study is the distinction between the provocation and temptation motivational pathways within SAT. The provocation pathway considers moral decision-making in response to perceived threats or insults, while the temptation pathway examines the moral evaluation of opportunistic violence. Through the use of vignettes, this research investigates how participants interpret and justify IPV in these differing motivational contexts, shedding light on the role of moral perception and situational influences in violent decision-making.

Applying SAT to IPV through vignettes offers significant methodological and theoretical benefits. It enables researchers to capture the complexity of moral reasoning in IPV incidents beyond binary victim-perpetrator frameworks. Additionally, this approach enhances understanding of how individuals rationalize or condemn IPV behaviors within specific situational contexts.

By integrating vignettes into SAT research, this study contributes to a more refined analysis of IPV, emphasizing the interplay between individual morality and situational factors. The findings offer valuable implications for IPV prevention strategies, highlighting the need for interventions that address moral perceptions and situational triggers influencing violent behavior.

Author

• Sarah Carlo, University of Cambridge