Evaluating Stalking Cases: How Relationship, Gender, and Stalking Myths Shape Perceptions Among Police and Law Students

This study examined factors influencing stalking case evaluations among German police students (N = 212) and law students (N = 149). Participants assessed scenarios varying in prior victim–perpetrator relationship and gender and completed a measure of stalking myth acceptance (SMA). Ex-partner stalking was perceived as less severe, elicited greater victim blaming, and was considered less in need of police intervention than stranger stalking. Cases with male perpetrators were rated as more serious, and law students evaluated consequences as more severe than police students. SMA moderated the effect of prior relationship, highlighting the potential influence of stereotypes and cognitive biases on stalking evaluations and legal decision-making.