Relational Pursuit Scale – RPS
Measures the occurrence and frequency of unwanted relational pursuit, obsessive intrusion, and stalking behaviors.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Relational Pursuit Scale – RPS was developed by William R. Cupach & Brian H. Spitzberg (2004). It is designed to measure Obsessive Relational Intrusion and Stalking Perpetration. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 28 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Stalking, Violation, Threats.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Stalking | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 | 13 |
| Violation | 14,15,16,17,18 | 5 |
| Threats | 19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28 | 10 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Never, 1 = Only Once, 2 = 2 or 3 Times, 3 = 4 to 5 Times, 4 = Over 5 times.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 112. Interpretation guidelines:
- No perpetration reported: 0 – 0
- Presence of relational pursuit behaviors (higher scores indicate greater levels of perpetration): 1 – 112
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in source text.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.