Stalkers

Each year an estimated 3.4 million men and women become victims of stalking. While a man in a black coat following a girl in a dark alley is the media’s stereotypical portrayal of stalking, there is actually a wide range of behavior that can be defined as such. Stalking—characterized by harassment, repeated calling, sending inappropriate letters or gifts, unsuitable use of social media, confrontation, and other unwanted behaviors—is a worldwide problem that is on the rise, especially the incidence and prevalence of cyberstalking. This book presents a collection of prominent articles published in the peer-reviewed journal Violence and Victims, written by experts on stalking from a variety of social science disciplines. Authors present research related to stalking victims and perpetrators, cyberstalking, how to identify stalking, and stalking in a variety of settings with a focus on college campuses. College students, many of whom are relatively new to intimate relationships, are especially prone to becoming stalked or perpetrating stalking. Several articles in this collection address stalking within the college population, including an empirical study of stalking victimization in men and women and a discussion of coping strategies at a Finnish university. Authors examine varying perceptions and attitudes toward stalking on campus, and discuss how to draw the line between courtship behavior and stalking. Personality attributes of stalkers include, according to one study, less social competence and a greater tendency to display borderline behaviors. Studies also address the relationship between stalking and gender, the stalking experiences of battered women, and the growing incidence of cyberstalking. This book will provide a solid research foundation toward understanding and controlling stalking behaviors, which can potentially lead to more serious abuse. Key Features: Disseminates the most acclaimed research articles on stalking from the peer-reviewed journal Victims and Violence Authored by well-known stalking experts from varied social science disciplines Explores stalking in numerous settings including college campuses Presents research on perpetrators and victims of stalking Examines cyberstalking

The Psychology of Stalking is the first scholarly book on stalking ever published. Virtually every serious writer and researcher in this area of criminal psychopathology has contributed to this comprehensive resource. These chapters explore stalking from social, psychiatric, psychological, legal, and behavioral perspectives. New thinking and data are presented on threats, pursuit characteristics, psychiatric diagnoses, offender-victim typologies, cyberstalking, false victimization syndrome, erotomania, stalking and domestic violence, stalking of public figures, and many other aspects of stalking. This landmark text is of interest to both professionals and other thoughtful individuals who recognize the serious nature of this ominous social behavior at the end of the millennium. Dr. Reid Meloy is a diplomate in forensic psychology of the American Board of Professional Psychology. He was Chief of the Forensic Mental Health Division for San Diego County, and now devotes his time to a private civil and criminal forensic practice, research, writing, and teaching. He is an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the School of Medicine of the University, San Diego, and an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego School of Law. He is also a Fellow for the Society of Personality Assessment and is currently President of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. In 1992 he received the Distinguished Contribution to Psychology as a Profession Award from the California Psychological Association. He is a sought-after speaker and psychological consultant on various civil and criminal cases throughout the United States, most recently the Madonna stalking case and the Polly Klass murder case. In 1997, he completed work as the forensic psychologist for the prosecution in the Oklahoma City bombing cases.

"This book reviews problems, issues, and presentations of the newest research in the field of cyberwarfare and cyberterrorism. While enormous efficiencies have been gained as a result of computers and telecommunications technologies, use of these systems and networks translates into a major concentration of information resources, createing a vulnerability to a host of attacks and exploitations"--Provided by publisher.

The economic impact of society's attempts to rehabilitate and contain psychopathically disordered individuals can be enormous. Understanding the nature of these disorders, developing accurate and valid assessment methods, and providing effective treatment and safe management cannot be underestimated. Including contributions from an international panel of experts from Europe, North America, and Asia, this two-volume set offers an in-depth, multidisciplinary look at key aspects of the development and etiology of psychopathic disorders; current methods of intervention, treatment, and management; and how these disorders impact decision-making in civil and criminal law. The most comprehensive major reference work available on psychopathy and the law, The Wiley International Handbook on Psychopathic Disorders and the Law, 2nd Edition: Covers the full history and conceptual development of psychopathic disorders Provides unique and enlightening perspectives on the subject from some of the world’s most well-renowned professionals in the field Looks at the etiology and pathogenesis of psychopathic disorders Examines current methods for the intervention, treatment, and management of ADHD, antisocial behavior, and impulsive aggression Provides in-depth discussions of civil and criminal law issues The Wiley International Handbook on Psychopathic Disorders and the Law, 2nd Edition is a must-have reference for practitioners and academics in clinical psychology, forensic psychology, psychiatry, probation, law, law enforcement, and social work.

The social construction of crime is often out of proportion to the threat posed. The media and advocacy groups shine a spotlight on some crimes and ignore others. Street crime is highlighted as putting everyone at risk of victimization, while the greater social harms from corporate malfeasance receive far less attention. Social arrangements dictate what is defined as crime and the punishments for those who engage in the proscribed behavior. Interest groups promote their agendas by appealing to public fears. Justifications often have no basis in fact, but the public accepts the exaggerations and blames the targeted offenders. The net-widening effect of more laws and more punishment catches those least able to defend themselves. This innovative alternative to traditional textbooks provides insightful observations of myths and trends in criminal justice. Fourteen chapters challenge misconceptions about specific crimes or aspects of the criminal justice system. Kappeler and Potter dissect popular images of crimes and criminals in a cogent, compelling, and engaging manner. They trace the social construction of each issue and identify the misleading statistics and fears that form the basis of myths—and the collateral damage of basing policies on mythical beliefs. The authors encourage skepticism about commonly accepted beliefs, offer readers a fresh perspective, and urge them to analyze important issues from novel vantage points.

ìHere is the latest word in scholarship on stalkers and those they terrify... a mandatory reading for anyone wanting to stay ahead of the curve on the flourishing clinical and legal literature about this worldwide and vexing problem.î - John Monahan, PhD Doherty Professor of Law, University of Virginia At what point does following a person, or trying to intimidate him or her into accepting one's advances, become "stalking"? How is stalking related to gender? Who is the stalker? What are the long-term effects of stalking? These are among the many issues explored in this groundbreaking empirical investigation. This book based on two special issues of the journal Violence & Victims presents in-depth findings on both victim and perpetrator, and includes a new understanding of the categories of stalking behavior: simple obsessional, love obsessional, and erotomanic.