Stalking has often been good subject matter for Hollywood movies, who could forget the evil character played by Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. Stalking is also a nightmare for thousands of people worldwide who are victims of harassing behaviour, such as actress Uma Thurman (pictured left) who was stalked by a crazed fan.
These days Cyber Stalkers are also an issue for anyone who engages in social interaction online.
Whether stalking, or cyber stalking is the issue, it is about recurrent harassment that erodes another person‘s quality of life. The behaviour usually extends over a long period of time rather than a single incident or action and it could last a few weeks, or in some severe cases, several years. The stalker’s behaviour can be continuous over that period, or may stop and then start up again.
Time Won’t Heal a Stalker
A victim may feel that the stalker’s interest becomes more threatening as time passes. The stalker could become more violent, more daring, or just that the actions of the stalker become less lawful. This ascending behaviour could culminate in physical assault, destruction of property, defamation, even rape or murder.
Stalkers usually prefer a mixture of contact. Their interest may be shown by visual sightings and first-person contact, posting letters and/or cards, emails and/or messaging and phone contact. They might even attempt entry to an abode or contact in the workplace, and can make declarations of love or threats of aggression.
Phone Stalkers
Typical phone stalking involves heavy breathing or recurrent phone calls only to hang up. Extreme cases of phone stalking feature several hundred calls each week by the perpetrator. Victims can feel as though they are imprisoned, being forced to change their phone numbers, addresses, jobs and even their name.
Other Types of Stalkers
There are two types of stalkers: Those who are psychotic and those who are not. Many psychotic stalkers have severe depression, schizophrenia or personality disorders that compel them to engage in such behaviour. For the non-psychotic stalker, feelings of anger, dependency, jealousy or other emotions may drive them.
Stalkers are driven by rejection, resentment, intimacy problems or a predatory nature.
Avoiding Cyber Stalkers
Avoiding online stalkers is difficult, but the first step is taking control of what is already on the net about you. Social pages like Facebook and Myspace are a fantastic way to stay in touch with friends and family. Unfortunately, they are also a way for stalkers to gain personal information.
Google your own name and see what comes up.
Case Study :Man found guilty of stalking Uma Thurman
A former psychiatric patient sent the actress a series of disturbing letters and cards. He also turned up at Ms Thurman's home and film sets and sent harassing e-mails to her family.
The man, an out-of-work lifeguard and pool cleaner, was convicted of stalking and aggravated harassment.
Prosecutors said the man sent Uma Thurman 20 bizarre letters while in a psychiatric institution. The actress said she felt "sick" after receiving a picture drawn on a on a religious confirmation card that showed a razor blade and a gravestone marked RIP near what appeared to be an open grave.
The man was also accused of emotionally blackmailing Ms Thurman's parents by telling them he would kill himself unless he could see her. He tried to get into Thurman’s trailer during the filming of a recent film and once said his hands should be on the star's body "at all times", the court heard.
The convicted stalker said: "In a misguided way I was trying to give her an opportunity to meet me and give myself an opportunity to meet her.
"I was feeling distressed. I had this feeling of longing for Ms Thurman and I was trying to explain it. I was not trying to scare her in any way."
These days Cyber Stalkers are also an issue for anyone who engages in social interaction online.
Whether stalking, or cyber stalking is the issue, it is about recurrent harassment that erodes another person‘s quality of life. The behaviour usually extends over a long period of time rather than a single incident or action and it could last a few weeks, or in some severe cases, several years. The stalker’s behaviour can be continuous over that period, or may stop and then start up again.
Time Won’t Heal a Stalker
A victim may feel that the stalker’s interest becomes more threatening as time passes. The stalker could become more violent, more daring, or just that the actions of the stalker become less lawful. This ascending behaviour could culminate in physical assault, destruction of property, defamation, even rape or murder.
Stalkers usually prefer a mixture of contact. Their interest may be shown by visual sightings and first-person contact, posting letters and/or cards, emails and/or messaging and phone contact. They might even attempt entry to an abode or contact in the workplace, and can make declarations of love or threats of aggression.
Phone Stalkers
Typical phone stalking involves heavy breathing or recurrent phone calls only to hang up. Extreme cases of phone stalking feature several hundred calls each week by the perpetrator. Victims can feel as though they are imprisoned, being forced to change their phone numbers, addresses, jobs and even their name.
Other Types of Stalkers
There are two types of stalkers: Those who are psychotic and those who are not. Many psychotic stalkers have severe depression, schizophrenia or personality disorders that compel them to engage in such behaviour. For the non-psychotic stalker, feelings of anger, dependency, jealousy or other emotions may drive them.
Stalkers are driven by rejection, resentment, intimacy problems or a predatory nature.
Avoiding Cyber Stalkers
Avoiding online stalkers is difficult, but the first step is taking control of what is already on the net about you. Social pages like Facebook and Myspace are a fantastic way to stay in touch with friends and family. Unfortunately, they are also a way for stalkers to gain personal information.
Google your own name and see what comes up.
Case Study :Man found guilty of stalking Uma Thurman
A former psychiatric patient sent the actress a series of disturbing letters and cards. He also turned up at Ms Thurman's home and film sets and sent harassing e-mails to her family.
The man, an out-of-work lifeguard and pool cleaner, was convicted of stalking and aggravated harassment.
Prosecutors said the man sent Uma Thurman 20 bizarre letters while in a psychiatric institution. The actress said she felt "sick" after receiving a picture drawn on a on a religious confirmation card that showed a razor blade and a gravestone marked RIP near what appeared to be an open grave.
The man was also accused of emotionally blackmailing Ms Thurman's parents by telling them he would kill himself unless he could see her. He tried to get into Thurman’s trailer during the filming of a recent film and once said his hands should be on the star's body "at all times", the court heard.
The convicted stalker said: "In a misguided way I was trying to give her an opportunity to meet me and give myself an opportunity to meet her.
"I was feeling distressed. I had this feeling of longing for Ms Thurman and I was trying to explain it. I was not trying to scare her in any way."
