Citation

Porter LE, Alison LJ. J. Sex. Aggress. 2019; 25(3): 226-243.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13552600.2019.1617903

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper replicates and extends Porter and Alison's (2001. A partially ordered scale of influence in violent group behavior: An example from gang rape. Small Group Research, 32(4), 475-497) method of leader identification in Multiple Perpetrator Rape (MPR). The study examined 216 MPR offences (totalling 712 different offenders), collected from archival sources (predominantly law reports). Porter and Alison's original coding scheme was refined and Multidimensional Scaling identified a partially ordered scale of influence based upon the decisions, actions and orders made by the offenders at each chronological offence stage. The updated scale identified leaders in 97% of the sample groups. The hierarchical structures of the groups were also examined through the distribution of influence among co-offenders. While the majority (68%) of cases exhibited a dichotomous leader/follower structure, some "followers" also exhibited influence tactics to varying degrees with the presence of "lieutenants" and linear hierarchies. The findings are discussed in relation to group dynamics as well as the reliability and validity of the influence scale.

Language: en

Keywords

co-offending; group dynamics; group rape; influence; leadership; Multiple perpetrator rape