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Digital Communication in Victim-Offender Mediation - The Effects of Video Messages of Victims on the Offender’s Empathy Taking for the Victim

Meeners, Michelle (2020) Digital Communication in Victim-Offender Mediation - The Effects of Video Messages of Victims on the Offender’s Empathy Taking for the Victim.

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Abstract:Victim-offender mediation (VOM) is a widely used form of restorative justice. However, in the traditional forms, both victims and offenders can experience problems, including that the mediation situation can be stressful and both parties might experience issues to express themselves and feel pressured by the presence of the other parties. Therefore, the current research aimed to explore the relatively new form of video messages as a digital communication form in VOM. The study used a scenario-based online survey to examine the effects of receiving a video message from the victim, compared to receiving a letter on the offender. Participants were randomly allocated to one of these communication forms. The examined variables are the perceived ability to understand the victim and the empathy for the victim. The study explored how those affect the willingness to continue communication. It was expected that a video would result in greater empathy and understanding, due to a greater number of visual/auditory cues compared to a letter, and thereby, increase the willingness to engage in further communication. Against the predictions, the study overall showed no significant differences between the two conditions. Nevertheless, the study showed that understanding has an influence on the empathy for the victim.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/81954
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