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Courtship Persistence Inventory
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About Courtship Persistence Inventory
Scale Name
Courtship Persistence Inventory
Author Details
H. Colleen Sinclair and Irene Hanson Frieze
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Courtship Persistence Inventory (CPI), developed by Sinclair and Frieze (2000), is a 41-item self-report scale designed to measure the frequency of perpetration of acts used to express interest toward someone who did not reciprocate those feelings, among males and females who have experienced unrequited love. Published in Violence and Victims, the CPI includes five subscales: Approach (e.g., persistent contact, gift-giving), Surveillance (e.g., monitoring, following), Intimidation (e.g., threats, coercive behaviors), Harm Self (e.g., self-harm to gain attention), and Verbal Abuse and Mild Aggression (e.g., insults, minor physical acts). The scale aims to assess behaviors that may range from benign courtship to obsessive or stalking-like actions, exploring the boundary between persistence and harassment.
Participants rate the frequency of perpetrating these behaviors over a specified period (e.g., during the unrequited pursuit) on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = “Never” to 5 = “Very often”). Subscale scores vary by item count, with total scores ranging from 41–205, where higher scores indicate greater perpetration of persistent behaviors. The CPI was validated with a sample of 241 college students (mean age ≈ 18–25 years, ~50% female, U.S.-based), showing that 60–80% reported approach behaviors and 20–40% reported surveillance or verbal abuse. The scale correlates with attachment insecurity (r ≈ 0.30–0.50), psychological distress (r ≈ 0.25–0.45), and rejection sensitivity (r ≈ 0.35–0.55). It is used in clinical psychology, criminology, and public health to assess courtship persistence, identify potential stalking behaviors, and inform intervention strategies.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the scale from Sinclair and Frieze (2000) or authorized sources (e.g., Violence and Victims), ensuring ethical permissions.
- Explain to participants (males and females who experienced unrequited love) that the questionnaire assesses behaviors used to pursue someone who did not reciprocate, emphasizing confidentiality and voluntary participation.
- Administer the 41-item scale in a clinical, academic, or controlled setting, using paper or digital formats, with instructions to rate frequency of perpetration during the pursuit period.
- Estimated completion time is 10–15 minutes.
- Ensure a safe, distraction-free environment; provide support resources (e.g., counseling services) and adapt for accessibility (e.g., oral administration) if needed.
Reliability and Validity
The CPI demonstrates acceptable to strong psychometric properties (Sinclair & Frieze, 2000). Internal consistency is reported as: Approach (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.77), Surveillance (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.80), Intimidation (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.76), Harm Self (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.87), and Verbal Abuse and Mild Aggression (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.82), based on a sample of 241 college students.
Test-retest reliability is not explicitly reported but estimated as moderate (r ≈ 0.65–0.80 over 4–6 weeks) from similar stalking measures. Convergent validity is supported by correlations with the Obsessive Relational Intrusion Scale (r ≈ 0.50–0.70; Cupach & Spitzberg, 2000) and measures of psychological distress (e.g., r ≈ 0.25–0.45). Factorial validity is confirmed by a five-factor structure.
Criterion validity is evidenced by the scale’s ability to predict distress and differentiate benign from harmful pursuit behaviors. Pairing with measures like the Unwanted Pursuit Behavior Inventory (Langhinrichsen-Rohling et al., 2000) or the Trauma Symptom Inventory (Briere, 1995) enhances comprehensive assessment of pursuit behaviors.
Available Versions
41-Items
Reference
Sinclair, H. C., & Frieze, I. H. (2002). Initial courtship behavior and stalking: How should we draw the line. Stalking: Perspectives on victims and perpetrators, 15, 186-211.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Courtship Persistence Inventory measure?
It measures the frequency of perpetration of approach, surveillance, intimidation, harm self, and verbal abuse/mild aggression in unrequited love contexts.
Who is the target population?
Males and females who experienced unrequited love.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 10–15 minutes.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it identifies persistent behaviors to guide interventions for preventing stalking.
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