What is Stalking? Definitions

Stalking – a course of conduct directed at a specific person that involves repeated visual or physical proximity; nonconsensual communication; verbal, written, or implied threats; or a combination thereof that would cause fear in a reasonable person. Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998

Stalking generally refers to harassing or threatening behavior that an individual engages in repeatedly, such as following a person, appearing at a person’s home or place of employment, making harassing phone calls, leaving written messages or objects, or vandalizing a persons property.

Legal definitions of stalking vary widely from state to state.

North Dakota definition:

Stalking: to engage in an intentional course of conduct directed at a specific person which frightens, intimidates, or harasses that person, and that serves no legitimate purpose. The course of conduct may be directed toward that person or a member of that person’s immediate family and must cause a reasonable person to experience fear, intimidation, or harassment.

See the North Dakota Century Code for further definition.

Stalking Information

Stalking facts

• 8% of women and 2% of men in the United States have been stalked at some point in their lives. In other words, 1 out of every 12 American women (8.2 million and 1 out of every 45 American men (2 million) have been stalking victims.
• An estimated 1,006,970 women and 370,990 men are stalked annually in the United States.
• 74% of victims were between the ages of 18-39.
• About 12% of cases result in criminal prosecution.
• 38% of female victims were stalked by a spouse or ex-spouse. 43% of the time this occurs after the relationship ended.
• 36% of male victims were stalked by a stranger.
• 87% of stalkers identified by victims were male.

National Violence Against Women Survey, National Institute of Justice and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Common Stalker Characteristics

• Jealous.
• Narcissistic.
• Obsessive and compulsive.
• Fall “instantly” in love.
• Manipulative.
• Does not take responsibility for own feelings and actions.
• Needs to control others.
• Socially awkward.
• Views self as victim of society, family etc.

Types of Stalkers

• Simple Obsessional

Virtually all domestic violence cases involving stalking fall under this category. The victim can be an ex-spouse, ex-lover, former boss, or co-worker. In each of these cases, obsessional activities begin after the relationship has gone sour or the stalker perceives mistreatment by the victim. The stalker campaigns to rectify the relationship or seeks some type of retribution. This is the type of stalker in 60% of all cases. They tend to be the most dangerous.

• Love Obsessional

This stalker is a stranger to the victim. They develop a love obsession or fixation on another person with whom they have no personal relationship. The stalker mounts a campaign of harassment to make the victim aware of their existence. The love obsessional stalker not only attempts to live out their fantasies, but expects their victims to play their assigned roles. They believe they can make their object of affection love them back. This is the type of stalker in 30% of all cases.

• Erotomania

The erotomanic stalker, usually female, has the delusional belief that they are passionately loved by another. They go to great lengths to contact the person of their delusion, usually a person of higher socio-economic class and status, or an unattainable public figure. These stalkers are often described as celebrity stalkers or obsessed fans. This is the least common type of stalker.

Feelings Experienced by Victims of Stalkers

• Acceptance/Denial.
• Aggression.
• Anger/Rage.
• Anxious/Hyper vigilance.
• Fear/Terror.
• Depression/Withdrawn.
• Guilt.
• Helplessness/Incapacitated.
• Integrating life change.
• Isolated.
• Kindness/Pity.
• Loss of short-term memory.
• Minimization/Rationalization.
• Mistrust.
• Mourning loss of security.
• Paranoid/Hunted/Suspicious.
• Permanently distracted.
• Powerlessness/Vulnerable.
• Sleeplessness.

If you or someone you know is a victim of stalking, contact your local domestic violence program, law enforcement agency or call this toll free number:

HELP-LINE, 1-800-472-2911, 24-hours, 7 days a week

For further information, resources materials, etc. contact:

ND Council on Abused Women’s Services/

Coalition Against Sexual Assault

418 East Rosser Avenue, #320

Bismarck, ND 58501-4046

888-255-6240 or 701-255-6240

[Email]

Stalking Behavior

[Stalking Behavior Website]

Stalking Victim’s Sanctuary

[Stalking Victim’s Sanctuary Website]

The Anti-stalking Web Site

[The Anti-stalking Web Website]

Communities Against Violence Network

[Communities Against Violence Network Website]