The Psychology of Stalking

Publisher Summary Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in an automobile accident on August 31, 1997. Millions grieved at the loss of what they felt to be a personal relationship with a woman they had never met. This chapter emphasizes that recognizing the force of fantasy as a central component of intense emotion and inexplicable behavior is the first step in understanding the psychology of stalking. Stalking is a crime involving acts of pursuit of an individual over times that are threatening and potentially dangerous. Clinical definitions of stalking vary, but tend to be more easily operationalized and measurable than legal definitions. In 1997 the Center for Policy Research in Denver published a study that reported the results of a telephone survey of 8000 men and 8000 women concerning their experiences with stalking. The findings of this survey indicate that stalking is a substantial criminal justice and public health concern. This chapter also discusses cyberstalking. Although there is no research on cyberstalking at present, there are legal cases, in which the Internet has been utilized as a means of unwanted communication to stalk someone.

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