Stalking Behavior and the Cycle of Domestic Violence

Abstract

The present study was conducted to refine the behavioral definition of stalking, investigate the role stalking plays in the cycle of domestic violence, and develop demographic profiles of stalkers and their victims. A total of 141 female undergraduates completed a questionnaire designed to assess the occurrence of threatening or violent behaviors in former heterosexual, romantic relationships. Subjects were placed in a control, harassed, or stalked group based on their responses to several questions modeled on Florida's antistalking law. The Conflict Tactics Scale was used to assess the presence of domestic violence during the relationships, and the Stalking Behavior Checklist was used to measure the occurrence of stalking behaviors after the relationships had ended. Results showed that subjects who reported significantly more verbal and physical abuse during the relationships were more likely to be stalked by their former partners after the relationships ended.