Strengthen Our Sisters • Profiles of Stalkers

STALKING - pattern of words or conduct that is intended to cause and does cause the targeted person to fear death, assault, bodily injury upon the person or member of the person's family (reasonable person standard).

HARASSMENT - pattern of intentional substantial and unreasonable intrusion which causes the targeted person to suffer mental distress (reasonable person standard). A suspect must be provided notice that contact is unwanted.

LOVE OBSESSION STALKERS develop a love obsession or fixation on a person with whom they have no personal relationship. Love obsession stalkers represent 20 to 25% of all stalking cases. Characteristics include:

SIMPLE OBSESSION STALKERS had a personal or romantic relationship before the stalking behavior began. Simple obsession stalkers represent 70 to 80% of all stalking cases. Characteristics include:

Pattern is triggered when advances toward victim are frustrated. Stalker may attempt to "woo" his victim by sending flowers or love letters. Stalker will use intimidation when victim does not welcome his advances. Attempts at intimidation often begin in the form of an unjustified, jealous and inappropriate intrusion into the victim's life. Contacts become more numerous and intrusive over time, until such conduct becomes a persistent pattern of harassment. Harassment may escalate to threats. In some cases, offenders are even willing to kill their victims and themselves in a last, desperate attempt to dominate the victim

While this progression in behavior is common, no stalking case is completely predictable. Some stalkers may never escalate past the first stage. Others jump from the first stage to the last stage with little warning. Others regress to previous stages before advancing to the next. It is not uncommon to see stalkers combine episodes of threats and violence with flowers and love letters.

As difficult as it is to predict what a stalker might do, it is just as difficult to predict when he might do it. Some stalkers will progress to later stages in only a few weeks or even days. In other cases, stalkers who have engaged in some of the most serious stalking behaviors may go months or even years without attempting a subsequent contact.

The natural reaction of most stalking victims aggravates the problem and increases the likelihood of violence. Case after case reveals the same patterns.

Victims deny the probiem, which instantly puts them at a disadvantage. Then they try to bargain with their stalkers, thereby establishing a dangerous precedent of allowing him to control their actions. Anxiety sets in. Never knowing when or where he's going to turn up or what he's going to do next, they can think of little else. They start to short-circuit mentally and emotionally. Exhaustion follows, along with profound depression. Then self-esteem starts to disintegrate. Victims start to blame themselves. Eventually, they get angry, so angry that they're ready to do almost anything to get the stalker out of their life. Finally, they accept what life has become. Only then can they start to deal with the situation objectively.

IMPORTANT SAFETY ALERT!

Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are
afraid your internet and/or computer usage might be monitored, please use a
computer at your local library or other location. Or call our local hotline at 1-800-767-9470,
and/or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.


World Peace Begins at Home.

	<< Previous Article Return to Articles page Next Article >> Profiles of Stalkers STALKING - pattern of words or conduct that is intended to cause and does cause the targeted person to fear death, assault, bodily injury upon the person or member of the person's family (reasonable person standard). HARASSMENT - pattern of intentional substantial and unreasonable intrusion which causes the targeted person to suffer mental distress (reasonable person standard). A suspect must be provided notice that contact is unwanted. PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROFILE OF STALKERS LOVE OBSESSION STALKERS develop a love obsession or fixation on a person with whom they have no personal relationship. Love obsession stalkers represent 20 to 25% of all stalking cases. Characteristics include: Developing a fixation on celebrities, co-workers, aerobics instructors, casual acquaintances or people they pass on the street. Suffering from a mental disorder — often schizophrenia or paranoia. Unable to develop relationships through socially acceptable means. Attempting to live out their fantasies and expect their victims to play roles as well. Using threats and intimidation when victim refuses to respond. Turning to violence when threats and intimidation fail. SIMPLE OBSESSION STALKERS had a personal or romantic relationship before the stalking behavior began. Simple obsession stalkers represent 70 to 80% of all stalking cases. Characteristics include: Personality disorders. Emotional immaturity, jealousy and extreme insecurity. Inability to succeed in relationships by socially-accepted means. Dominating and intimidating victims in order to bolster own self-esteem. Biggest fear is losing the victim. Believing their lives have no worth without the victim. Turning to violence in order to control every aspect of the victim's life STALKING BEHAVIOR PATTERNS AND CYCLES Pattern is triggered when advances toward victim are frustrated. Stalker may attempt to "woo" his victim by sending flowers or love letters. Stalker will use intimidation when victim does not welcome his advances. Attempts at intimidation often begin in the form of an unjustified, jealous and inappropriate intrusion into the victim's life. Contacts become more numerous and intrusive over time, until such conduct becomes a persistent pattern of harassment. Harassment may escalate to threats. In some cases, offenders are even willing to kill their victims and themselves in a last, desperate attempt to dominate the victim While this progression in behavior is common, no stalking case is completely predictable. Some stalkers may never escalate past the first stage. Others jump from the first stage to the last stage with little warning. Others regress to previous stages before advancing to the next. It is not uncommon to see stalkers combine episodes of threats and violence with flowers and love letters. Types of Stalking Behavior Visiting or following the victim or victim's family harassing telephone calls, which includes obscene calls and hang-ups Sending threatening mail, which is a federal felony Trespassing Burglary which often shows no forced entry because the stalker has a key Vandalism Leaving unwanted objects such as dead flowers on fences at victim's home or work place Killing or injuring pets Unscrewing outside security lights Disabling alarm system Disabling victim's vehicle Disabling telephone Transferring telephone line to another line to monitor messages Plant listening devices Filing change of address form with the Post Office in order to intercept mail. As difficult as it is to predict what a stalker might do, it is just as difficult to predict when he might do it. Some stalkers will progress to later stages in only a few weeks or even days. In other cases, stalkers who have engaged in some of the most serious stalking behaviors may go months or even years without attempting a subsequent contact. The natural reaction of most stalking victims aggravates the problem and increases the likelihood of violence. Case after case reveals the same patterns. Victims deny the probiem, which instantly puts them at a disadvantage. Then they try to bargain with their stalkers, thereby establishing a dangerous precedent of allowing him to control their actions. Anxiety sets in. Never knowing when or where he's going to turn up or what he's going to do next, they can think of little else. They start to short-circuit mentally and emotionally. Exhaustion follows, along with profound depression. Then self-esteem starts to disintegrate. Victims start to blame themselves. Eventually, they get angry, so angry that they're ready to do almost anything to get the stalker out of their life. Finally, they accept what life has become. Only then can they start to deal with the situation objectively. << Previous Article Return to Articles page Next Article >> IMPORTANT SAFETY ALERT! Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are afraid your internet and/or computer usage might be monitored, please use a computer at your local library or other location. Or call our local hotline at 1-800-767-9470, and/or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
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