The tactical face of stalking

Abstract

The empirical literature on stalking was reviewed, and found wanting for greater descriptive detail of the process of stalking. For this study, fifty-five stalking case files from the city attorney's Domestic Violence Unit in a major western metropolitan area were coded for over one hundred variables each. Multiple victimization factors were examined to ascertain the characteristics of stalking victims and to analyze the relationship between victimization, symptomology, and coping strategies. Results indicate that the most common coping strategy was “hung up when they called,” and that victims reported feeling “threatened” more than any other symptom. In addition, as the number and/or breadth of perpetrator tactics increased, the victims experienced more symptoms. A history of violence was reported in the majority of the case files, and the presence of restraining orders had a strong correlation with victimization. Implications for refining current theory and research on stalking and strategies for successful intervention were examined.