Stalking: Prävalenz, Gefährlichkeit und Täterprofile Übersichtsarbeit

Abstract

Background: The term describes persistent inappropriate threatening and often obsessive behaviour which is mostly intended to cause alarm and distress in the stalker's victim. Stalking represents a complex behavioural pattern, which includes harassment, the invasion of a person's privacy and often the use of violence. Methods: The present review assembles findings from 13 years of research. Results: In German-speaking regions the risk of being a victim of stalking during one's lifetime is 17% for women and 4% for men. The majority of offenders are men and the majority of victims are women. The prevalence of violent acts in stalking is found to be between 21 and 76% depending on the examined population and the definition of stalking and violence. The highest prevalence of violence is found in ex-partner stalking which presents the most dangerous form of stalking and is found to include some form of violence in 51-89% of cases. Other predictors of violent behaviour in stalking are verbal threats, especially if they are repeated. Also predictive of violence in stalking are personality disorders, especially if no major mental health disorder was present (such as schizophrenia or affective disorders). The prevalence of serious violence in stalking is probably underestimated because such cases are usually not registered as cases of stalking in police files. Studies of murder victims showed a high prevalence of stalking previous to the offence, which leads to the conclusion that stalking is a serious predictor of homicide. Predictors of serious violence in stalking are not the same as the ones of average violence in stalking. They also differ from the predictors usually employed in risk assessments. Predictors for serious violence in stalking are the length of stalking and having ambushed the victim at home. Different typologies are suggested which focus on such factors as type of relationship between stalker and victim, motive, psychopathology and risk profile of the stalker. Conclusion: Stalking represents a complex obsessive and persistent behavioural pattern which often aims at causing alarm and distress in the victim. New communication technologies such as mobile phones, text messaging and e-mails represent new and easier ways to stalk a person. Stalking happens frequently and results frequently in violent acts toward the victim. Especially ex-partner stalking includes more often than not some form of violence. However, there are currently no evidence-based recommendations on how to adequately assess the risk a stalker poses.