Stalking - Are you a victim?
Stalking:
In general terms, stalking is when a person becomes fearful of their safety because someone is repeatedly pursuing, harassing, and/or following them, which is unwanted and serving no legitimate purpose.
This definition is much broader than the criminal definition of stalking listed below:Legal Definition of Stalking (Virginia Code 18.2 - 60.3)
- Any person who on more than one occasion engages in conduct directed at another person with the intent to place, or when he knows or reasonably should know that the conduct places that other person in reasonable fear of death, criminal sexual assault, or bodily injury to that other person or to that other person’s family or household member is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
- A third or subsequent conviction occurring within 5 years of a conviction for an offense under this section or for a similar offense under the law of any other jurisdiction shall be a Class 6 felony.
Class 1 misdemeanor: Not more than 12 months in jail and/or not more than $2,500 fine.
Class 6 felony: Not more than 5 years in the State penitentiary or up to 12 months in jail and not more than $2,500 fine.
Categories of Stalkers (taken from J. Reid Meloy)
Simple-Obsessional - The most common category of stalking cases and also the most lethal type of stalker. These stalkers have a relationship with their victim, and intended victim(s) may include a spouse, child, or other family members, a co-worker, physician, or their boss, etc. Domestic violence-related stalking falls under this category.
Love-Obsessional - This type of stalker is less common and usually involves stranger and celebrity stalkings (e.g. Rebecca Schaefer, Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow) This type of stalker is often diagnosed with a mental disorder.
Erotomanic - This is when the stalker truly believes the victim loves him/her, even though no actual relationship exists between stalker and victim. These stalkers are often diagnosed with delusional disorder. David Letterman's stalker fit this profile, because she believed they were married and tried to move into his house.
Common Stalker Characteristics (taken from Spence-Diehl (1999))
- Jealous
- Narcissistic
- Obsessive and compulsive
- Falls “instantly” in love
- Manipulative
- Needs to have control over others
- Deceptive
- Views problems as someone else’s fault
- Difficulty distinguishing between fantasy and reality
- May be of above average intelligence
- Does no take responsibility for own actions or feelings
- Socially awkward or uncomfortable
- Unable to take “no” for an answer
- Sense of entitlement
- Cannot cope with rejection
- Views self as a victim of society, family, and others
- Dependent on others for sense of “self”
- Often switches between rage and “love”
Click here if you believe you are being stalked.
