Bringing stalking out of the shadows
Olivia Shepherd, Forensic Psychologist in Training
What is stalking?
There are many ways to define stalking, but here we define stalking as a pattern of unwanted, obsessive and repetitive behaviour that elicits fear, harm or emotional distress in the victim.
Statistics
- The prevalence of female victims of stalking is higher (approximately 1 in 6 women versus 1 in 17 men). But anyone can be a victim of stalking. [1]
- The prevalence of stalking is increasing. The Crime Survey for England and Wales highlights that the prevalence of stalking among adults aged 16 to 74 has risen from 3,588 adults in the year ending March 2018 to a staggering 25,254 in the year ending March 2020. [2]
- Lockdown has been identified as a contributing factor to the recent increase in stalking cases. In London alone, the Metropolitan Police has reported a rise of more than 300% in stalking reports during the COVID 19 pandemic. [3]
What does it look like?
The stereotypical impression of stalking paints the picture of a man lurking in the shadows, on a street corner, following a vulnerable person home…
But in fact, stalking can be perpetrated by anyone, towards anyone (i.e., ex-partners, acquaintances, strangers and celebrities). It can also present itself in many forms. Some examples include making unwanted communication (by phone, in person, or online), damaging property, regularly sending gifts, as well as the more overt behaviours of following, watching or spying.
It is important to highlight that some of these examples may not appear problematic if considered in isolation. But, in the context of stalking, these behaviours are a grave cause for concern.
Stalking behaviours may initially even be considered 'charming'. For example, in Netflix's portrayal of "You" by Caroline Kepnes, Joe, a bookstore clerk, becomes obsessed with a customer, a writer named Beck. Initially, there were moments when he said or did certain things that appeared romantic. But Joe's obsession with Beck grew over time, and his initial methods of stalking on social media soon progressed to phone hacking, breaking into her home and physical violence.
Acts of stalking can also be conducted in a way in which the threat is only apparent to the victim, such as indirect social media posts or gifts with hidden meanings. This not only ostracises the victim but makes the process of acknowledging the stalking much more difficult, a challenge often faced by professionals.
Increasing awareness of stalking
Cases of stalking can often look similar on the surface and encompass the same kinds of behaviours, but the reasons people engage in stalking can vary and are complex in nature. It is now widely accepted in the literature that there are five broad types of stalker.
The REJECTED stalker:
The stalker who is no longer in a relationship with the victim and is seeking revenge or looking to re-establish the relationship
The INTIMACY SEEKING stalker:
The stalker who becomes deluded that the victim is in love with them
The INCOMPETENT stalker:
The stalker who has poor social skills (possibly learning difficulties and/or mental disorder), who is not a suitor for the victim
The RESENTFUL stalker:
The stalker who seeks to frighten and distress the victim
The PREDATORY stalker:
The stalker who is preparing for a sexual attack
Research suggests that attachment styles play a role in stalking, with perpetrators of stalking more likely to possess an insecure attachment style (Tonin, 2004).
Despite the contributions of research into stalking, many victims have reported negative experiences when reporting stalking behaviours (Galeazzi et al., 2009; Taylor-Dunn et al., 2018). This is consistent with research demonstrating that professionals with less experience and training in cases of stalking were more likely to view stalking as less dangerous (Lynch, et al., 2015). This highlights the need for information relating to stalking to be captured and dispersed amongst professionals. It is hoped that this will help to bridge the gap, creating a better understanding of the many ways that stalking can present and how best we as professionals can support and intervene.
We can help!
Here at Forensic Psychology Consultancy UK, we recognise the importance of understanding stalking behaviours and the need for increased support for professionals working with these individuals.
We are experienced in delivering stalking and harassment training to professionals and have also developed an intervention package that can be delivered to people who have engaged in stalking behaviour. If you are interested in finding out more about this training or the stalking intervention services that we provide, please email us:
Support
Support for people affected by stalking is available from the following sources.
- Suzy Lamplugh Trust (Offers support for victims and research and training for employers¬) -https://www.suzylamplugh.org
- National Stalking Helpline – 0808 802 0300
- Paladin (the National Stalking Advocacy Service) - https://paladinservice.co.uk/
- SPARC (Offers support for victims and training for professionals) The Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Centre | SPARC (stalkingawareness.org)
Additional Information
For more information about stalking, the following sources may be of interest to you:
- Podcast: Let's call it stalking - The Forensic Psychology Podcast | Podcast on Spotify
- Reading: Mullen (2008). Stalkers and their Victims. Cambridge university press.
References
[1] SPARC_StalkngFactSheet_2018_FINAL.pdf (stalkingawareness.org)
[2] Stalking: findings from the Crime Survey for England and Wales - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
[3] http://news.sky.com/story/stalkers-have-become-increasingly-obsessive-during-lockdown-leaving-victims-feeling-trapped-12279908
Galeazzi, G. M., Bučar-Ručman, A., DeFazio, L., & Groenen, A. (2009). Experiences of stalking victims and requests for help in three European countries. A survey. European Journal on criminal policy and research, 15(3), 243-260.
Lynch, K. R., & Logan, T. K. (2015). Police officers' attitudes and challenges with charging stalking. Violence and victims, 30(6), 1037-1048.
Taylor-Dunn, H., Bowen, E., & Gilchrist, E. A. (2018). Reporting harassment and stalking to the police: A qualitative study of victims' experiences. Journal of interpersonal violence, 22, 1-28.
Tonin, E. (2004). The attachment styles of stalkers. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 15(4), 584-590.
Author: Olivia Shepherd, Forensic Psychologist in Training
