Stalking - A Malicious Hate Crime

Stalking is a crime of aggression that leaves no visible scars. Yet the effects of stalking are severely debilitating on emotional, mental and spiritual levels as they leave the victim feeling increasingly powerless and traumatised. The crime is one of veiled threats, harassment, intimidation, control, intrusion and emotional blackmail and it often occurs over a prolonged period, resulting in accumulated confusion, isolation, alienation, and eventually crisis for the victim. 

Stalking may involve information gathering, importuning, parading a new victim, malicious remarks or behaviour, and upsetting remarks or language. The Readers Digest Universal Dictionary defines stalking as “to move threateningly, to pursue or track stealthily, to transverse threateningly or menacingly.” These definitions provide an example of the type of predatory prowling that perpetrators have towards their prey. 

The mentality of the stalker is usually narcissistic. They stare into the life of the victim as Narcissus gratifyingly gazed into the pool, seeking only his reflection. The stalker is one who prefers pseudo-intimate relationships that bestow an underhand advantage, as stalking involves no mutuality that is expected from a normal relationship, and minimises direct rejection. The stalker may refer to their destructive attachment to the victim as “affection”, as stalking involves an enforced relationship that would otherwise be unforthcoming. Stalking is an abuse of power, and stalkers are often self-seeking individuals whose power over others leads to a feeling of omnipotency and invulnerability. They are frequently jealous individuals who are unassertive and ineffectual in other aspects of their life, and use jealousy as a self justified outlet for their aggression.

Stalking is a personality disorder. Clinical case studies revealed that stalking offenders usually have a history of physical, mental, emotional and sexual abuse. They haven’t bought up either in an authoritarian family environment, or where discipline was arbitrary or inconsistent. This 40 upbringing inhibited their maturity, and the rest of their development.

Stalking is a personality disorder. Clinical case studies revealed that stalking offenders usually have a history of physical, mental, emotional or sexual abuse. They haven’t brought up either in an authoritarian family environment, or where discipline was arbitrary or inconsistent. This 40 upbringing inhibited their maturity, and the rest of their development. They may have a background of sibling rivalry or an experience of ridicule, mockery, contempt or bullying during their formative years that cause psychological conflict, and they need to gain codependent support from others who protect them and support a feeling of desperate empowerment. Stalkers often display obsessional traits and paraphilia,  paedophilia, necrophilia and other types of clear psychopathology. They may have a criminal history of burglary, violence, rape, and/or drug abuse. 

Stalking is a crime that has an increasing incidence as electronic surveillance becomes cheaper and more easily obtainable. Stalking can involve computer hacking, telephone tapping, and car tracking. Home microphone devices can record conversations up to 1000 m. There is a need now for vigilance and education amongst police forces for this highly specialised form of stalking.

Article for Women’s Magazine by Wendy Stokes https://wendystokes.co.uk