Stalking is defined as the willful and repeated following, watching, and/or harassing of another person, sometimes done out of obsession or derangement. In most cases, the purpose of stalking is to force a relationship with an unwilling or unavailable target. The act of stalking is a continuous process, consisting of numerous incidents. Stalking is a form of mental assault, in which the perpetrator repeatedly, unwantedly, and disruptively breaks into the life-world of the victim, with whom they have no relationship (or no longer have). For the most part, the separate acts that make up the intrusion cannot by themselves cause the mental abuse, but taken together they do, as there is a cumulative effect. Contrary to other crimes that usually consist of a single act, stalking consists of a series of actions, which in themselves can be legal, such as calling on the phone or sending emails. Most stalking cases do not rise to extreme levels of violence or harassment.
Subcategories 2
Sites 8
- National Organization for Victims Assistance (NOVA) Support for victims of crime. Includes contact details and related links.
- Prevalence and Health Consequences of Stalking Article on effects from the Center For Disease Control.
- Stalk Victims Information Service Myths about the problem, and resources.
- AWARE Stalking Resources Prevention information including quizzes, tips, safety tools, and techniques.
- Stalking and Domestic Violence Behaviors and patterns, and self-defense information.
- Obsessive Ex Syndrome Information, and true-life stories, on "rejected" stalkers.
- United States Department of Justice: About Stalking General information, resources, and publications.
- MINCAVA Electronic Clearinghouse Thousands of articles and resources on all types of violence and abuse, including stalking and sex crimes.