Behaviors of Stalkers and Their Impact on Survivors

Understanding Stalking: A Dangerous Form of Abuse

Stalking is a serious and often overlooked form of abuse that involves a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person, causing them to feel fear.

It can happen both in person and online, and it is crucial to understand its signs and dangers. Stalking is more than just emotional abuse; it often serves as a precursor to escalating violence.

What Is Stalking?

Stalking is defined as a course of conduct aimed at an individual that would cause a reasonable person to feel afraid.

This behavior may take many forms, but it always involves an unwanted invasion of the victim’s personal life. Stalking can range from seemingly minor actions like persistent emails to severe threats of violence.

Common stalking behaviors include:

Repeated phone calls, voicemails, emails, and text messages

Monitoring a victim’s phone activity or computer use

Driving by, waiting at, or showing up at the victim’s home, school, or work

Sending unwanted gifts, letters, or cards

Posting information or spreading rumors about the victim on social media sites, in public places, or by word of mouth

Searching for information about the victim by conducting public records or online searches, hiring private investigators, digging through the victim’s garbage, or contacting the victim’s friends, family, neighbors, or co-workers

Using technology, such as hidden cameras, to watch the victim

Following the victim, either in person or via the use of technology (e.g., GPS or location-based apps)

Hacking social media accounts to monitor, harass or isolate the victim

Using a third party to contact or stalk the victim (i.e., proxy stalking)

Committing identity theft or financial fraud against the victim, such as opening, closing, or taking money from accounts

Using children to harass or monitor the victim

Vandalizing or destroying a victim’s property, car, or home

Violating protective orders or other injunctions

Threatening to hurt the victim or their family, friends, or pets

Threatening to kill the victim or others, self, or pets

The most dangerous perpetrators are those who:

Engage in actual pursuit of the victim

Possess or are interested in weapons

Commit other crimes such as vandalism or arson

Are prone to emotional outbursts and rage

Have a history of violating protection orders, substance abuse, mental illness and/or violence, especially toward the victim

Have made threats of murder or murder-suicide

The most dangerous times for a stalking victim are when:

The victim has separated from the stalker

The stalker has been arrested or served with a protection order

The stalker has a major negative life event, such as the loss of a job or being evicted

The stalking behaviors increase in frequency or escalate in severity

Effects of stalking on a survivor:

Abuse of drugs or alcohol

Inability to study

Sexual dysfunction

Anger

Irritability

Anxiety

Loss of confidence

Confusion

Loss of relationships

Depression

Minimization

Economic losses

Nightmares

Embarrassment

PTSD

Emotional numbness

Self-Blame

Fatigue

Fear

Shame

Flashbacks

Shock

Frustration

Sleep disturbances

Frustration

Social isolation

Guilt

Suicidal ideation

Hyper-vigilance

Unable to accomplish daily tasks

Inability to concentrate

Weight changes

Source: The national center for victims of crime stalking resource center program

If you or someone you know is experiencing stalking, call CASA Marion’s 24-Hour Hotline at 352-722-CASA.

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