Stalking

STALKING
GROUP MEMBERS
• SIDUMISILE NDLOVU N02420160P
• SAMBULELO BUYELA MOYO N02419754Y
• TINOTENDA MACHINGA N02421130N

WHAT IS STALKING
?
Stalking is making repeated
unwanted communications
and contacts in a way that
would cause apprehension or
fear in most people.
Means of
communicaion
• telephone calls
• emails
• text messages
• posts on social networking sites
• letters
• faxes
Making unwanted
contact
• loitering near their home

• workplace or places of leisure
by spying on them
Making unwanted
contact
• following them
• accosting them in public
• occasionally by trespassing in
their home or workplace.
Types of stalkers
• The Rejected stalker
refuse to accept the end of a
relationship.
• The Resentful stalker

• The Predatory stalker
often sexually obsessed, preparing
for a sexual assault.
• The Intimacy Seeking stalker
desire close relationship with
• The Incompetent suitor stalker
lacking social skills, stalks in the
context of loneliness or lust.
Why is it a
problem?
• Psychological Harm
• Safety Concerns
• Disruption to Daily Life
Prevalence
Population groups most
affected
affected
• Women (estimates indicating that
around 3 in 4 stalking victims are
female)
• Young Adults (ages of 18-24)
• Intimate Partners and Former Intimate
Partners (such as spouses, dating
partners and ex-partners)
affected
• Marginalized Populations ( such as
racial/ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+
individuals and people with disabilities).
• Professionals in helping roles (law
enforcement, healthcare and education).
• Celebrities and Public Figures ( such as
politicians and other public figures).
John
Bowlby’s
Attachment
Theory
John Bowlby’s
Attachment Theory:
• Humans have an
innate drive to bond
with primary
caregivers, shaping
their interactions with
others.
John Bowlby’s Theory
Attachment Styles and Stalking:
•Stalkers often have insecure attachment
styles, particularly preoccupied
attachment.
•This leads to difficulties forming and
maintaining intimate relationships.
Psychological drivers of stalking:
• Stalking behaviors may stem from
separation anxiety and a desire to restore
self worth.
• Stalking can be a coping mechanism for
those with vulnerable narcissism to
reestablish self regard and self worth.
Attachment formation and stalking:
• Disruption of secure attachment formation in
childhood is seen as a root cause of the

relational difficulties and attachment
pathologies that underlie stalking behaviors.
Conclusion:
• Stalking is theorized to have origins in
insecure attachment styles and the

psychological needs for connection and self
worth that they produce.
Conclusion:
• This presentation summarizes the key points about the link
between attachment theory and stalking behaviors highlighting
the role of insecure attachment styles, psychological drivers and
the disruption of secure attachment formation in childhood.

Mental health implications of
stalking
•Denial, confusion, self-doubt,
questioning if what is happening is
unreasonable, wondering if they are
over reacting
•Frustration
•Guilt, embarrassment, self-blame
•Apprehension, fear, terror of being
Mental Health implications of
Stalking
• Feeling isolated and helpless to stop the
harassment
• Depression (all symptoms related to
depression)
• Anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia
(frightened to leave the house, never
feeling safe)
Stalking
•Difficulty concentrating, attending and
remembering things
•Inability to sleep, nightmares,
ruminating
Stalking
•Emotional numbing
•Symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress
disorder e.g. hypervigilance (always
on the lookout), flashbacks of
frightening incidents, easily startled
•Insecurity and inability to trust
others, problems with intimacy
Stalking
•Personality changes due to
becoming more suspicious,
introverted or aggressive
•Self medication alcohol/ drugs or
using prescribed medications
•Suicide thoughts and/or suicide
attempts
Physical Health implications of
Stalking
•Fatigue from difficulty sleeping,
being constantly on guard,
symptoms of depression
•Effects of chronic stress
including headaches,
hypertension
Physical Health implications of
Stalking
•Fluctuations in weight due to not
eating or comfort eating
•Development or exacerbation of pre
existing conditions e.g. asthma,
gastric ulcers and psoriasis.
•Dizziness
•Shortness of breath
Physical health implications of
stalking
• Impact on health of increased use of alcohol, cigarettes
or drugs
• Sexual dysfunction
• Physical injury due to not concentrating or being under
the influence of substances
• Heart palpitations and sweating.

WHAT IS BEING
DONE ABOUT
IT?
1. LEGISLATION
• Majority of countries
have placed laws that
criminalise stalking
behaviour
• Some do not have laws
that directly respond to
stalking e.g. New
Zealand
1. LEGISLATION
• To protect victims
from immediate
danger, restraining
orders can be put in
place
• Failure to comply
with these results in
Did you know?
Stalking in Zimbabwe
can lead to a 10 year
sentence.
2. Law enforcement
• Having laws without
someone to enforce
them would be
pointless
• Special units are
trained to deal with
stalking cases e.g.
Threat management
2. Law enforcement
• Amongst others, risk assessment tools
are used by officers to deal with stalking.
• These gauge the potential danger that is
posed by the stalker
• Hence an appropriate means of
intervention can be set up
• An example of such a tool is the Stalking
Assessment and Management tool
2. Law enforcement
• The SAM has 30 risk factors divided into 3
categories, Namely;
 Nature of stalking behavior (Intensity,
Frequency, Variety of stalking behaviors)
 Perpetrator characteristics (Psychology,
behaviour and social factors related to
stalker)
 Victim Vulnerability (factors that increase a
victim’s risk e.g. Isolation, fear or previous
2. Law enforcement
• Other risk assessment tools
include:
 The Spousal Assault Risk
Assessment (SARA)
 Brief Spousal Assault Form
for the Evaluation of risk (B-
SAFER)
 Domestic Violence
Screening Instrument-
3. Psychological and Mental
Health Intervention
• Includes stalker rehabilitation
programmes
• These programms mainly focus
on underlying psychological
issues
• They use tools such as
3. Psychological and Mental
Health Intervention
• This section deals with the
state of the victim during and
after a stalking experience.
• Mental health professionals
support victims who often
suffer from anxiety, depression
3. Psychological and Mental Health
Intervention
• These services can be provided by
non-profit organisations and
advocacy groups.
• An example is the National Center
for Victims of Crime in the USA
• Close friends, families and even
What should
be done?
What should be
done?
Recognize and Acknowledge
Stalking
- Identify stalking behavior: repeated,

unwanted attention or harassment
- Trust your instincts: if you feel
What should be
done?
Document Everything
• Keep a detailed record of each stalking

incident: - Date, time, location, and
description of what happened
• Save any communications from the stalker
(texts, emails, social media messages,
letters, etc.)
What should be
done?
Avoid Contact and Enhance
Personal Safety
- Do not engage with or respond to the stalker
- Avoid confrontation and interaction
- Inform trusted people about the situation
What should be
done?
Avoid Contact and Enhance Personal
Safety
- Change daily routines and avoid predictable
patterns
- Secure your home with locks, alarms, and
security cameras
- Have a safety plan in place, including safe
What should be
done?
Seek Help and Protection
- Inform authorities: report stalking to local law
enforcement and provide documentation and
evidence
- Seek legal protection: consider a restraining
order or protective order
- Consult with a lawyer to understand legal options
What should be
done?
Use Technology Safely
- Adjust privacy settings on social media
- Be cautious about what you share online
- Use strong, unique passwords and enable
two-factor authentication
- Check for tracking devices on your phone,
car, and personal belongings
What should be
done?
Get Support and Stay Vigilant
- Reach out to organizations
specializing in stalking
- Talk to a counselor or
therapist for emotional support
and coping strategies
What should be
done?
Get Support and Stay
Vigilant
- Continue documenting
incidents and report them to
law enforcement
- Maintain communication with
trusted friends, family, or a
What should be
done?
Emergency Plan
- Have a plan for immediate

danger, including calling
emergency services
- Know safe places to go, such
as a friend’s house or a public
Sociological
Theories and
Resolutions for
Stalking
Sociological Theories and
Resolutions for Stalking
Social Learning Theory
• Stalking behavior learned through
observation and imitation
• Resolution: Change cultural norms,
educate on healthy relationships and
boundaries
Control Theory
• Weak social bonds lead to deviant
behavior
• Resolution: Strengthen social
institutions, community programs, and
support networks
Labelling Theory
• Deviance results from societal labeling
• Resolution: Focus on rehabilitation,
avoid stigmatizing labels, address
underlying issues
• Feminist Theory
• Stalking rooted in gender inequality and
patriarchal norms
• Resolution: Promote gender equality,
educate on consent and respectful
relationships, advocate for legal
Routine Activity Theory
• Crime occurs with motivated offender,
suitable target, and lack of guardianship
• Resolution: Increase community
vigilance, law enforcement presence,
technological measures, empower
Strain Theory
• Deviant behavior results from stress and
inability to achieve goals
• Resolution: Provide support systems,
resources for stress coping, job training,
education
QUESTIONS
REFERENCES
• Mackenzie R, McEwan T, Pathé M, James D, Ogloff J and Mullen P (2011) Stalking risk profile.
Available at: https://www.stalking risk profile.com (Accessed 4 August 2024 )
• Gilard P (2024) Domestic violence services network , lnc. Available at:
https://www.dvsn.org/january-2024-stalking-stats-tactics-impacts/. (Accessed 4 August 2024 )
• (2022) The British psychological society, Theories of stalking. Available at:
https://www.bps.org.uk/(Accessed 4 August 2024 )

Stalking

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Stalking

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Stalking

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

STALKING

• SAMBULELO BUYELA MOYO N02419754Y

• TINOTENDA MACHINGA N02421130N

• loitering near their home

• The Resentful stalker

childhood is seen as a root cause of the

insecure attachment styles and the

between attachment theory and stalking behaviors highlighting

the role of insecure attachment styles, psychological drivers and

the disruption of secure attachment formation in childhood.

•Inability to sleep, nightmares,

• Physical injury due to not concentrating or being under

the influence of substances

• Heart palpitations and sweating.

- Identify stalking behavior: repeated,

• Keep a detailed record of each stalking

- Have a plan for immediate

Available at: https://www.stalking risk profile.com (Accessed 4 August 2024 )

• Gilard P (2024) Domestic violence services network , lnc. Available at:

https://www.dvsn.org/january-2024-stalking-stats-tactics-impacts/. (Accessed 4 August 2024 )

• (2022) The British psychological society, Theories of stalking. Available at:

https://www.bps.org.uk/(Accessed 4 August 2024 )

You might also like