Psycho-Criminological Approaches to Stalking Behavior

Heng Choon (Oliver) Chan, PhD is Associate Professor of Criminology at City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR. His research focuses on stalking behavior, sexual homicide, offender profiling, sexual offending, homicide, and Asian criminology. He is the author of several books and more than 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. Lorraine Sheridan, PhD is a Chartered Forensic Psychologist and Associate Professor at Curtin University, Australia. The author of four books and numerous papers, she trains professionals involved in investigating stalking crimes and provides case management advice to police, security personnel, public figures, and others on stalking, harassment, violence, and risk and threat assessment.

• Foreword xvReferences xviiIntroduction: Stalking Behavior in a Global Context 1Heng Choon (Oliver) Chan and Lorraine SheridanIntroduction 1The Approach Adopted in this Book 2The Structure of the Book 3Exploring the Global Phenomenon of Stalking Behavior from a Psycho‐Criminological Perspective 6References 7Part I: Theories and Research 91 Stalking and Cyberstalking Victimization Research: Taking Stock of Key Conceptual, Definitional, Prevalence, and Theoretical Issues 11Erica R. Fissel, Bradford W. Reyns, and Bonnie S. FisherIntroduction 11Conceptual and Definitional Issues—Stalking 13Conceptual and Definitional Issues—Cyberstalking 15Prevalence of Stalking and Cyberstalking Victimization 16Theoretical Approaches Applied to Stalking and Cyberstalking Victimization 22Multi‐Theoretical Frameworks 30Future Directions for Research 31References 322 Racial Differences in Stalking Victimization, Police Reporting, and Coping Strategies among White, Black, and Asian Americans 37Fawn T. NgoIntroduction 37Stalking Victimization 39Racial Differences in Stalking Victimization 40Racial Differences in Help‐Seeking Behaviors Among Stalking Victims 41Data and Methods 42Sample 42Measures 44Analytic Strategy 46Results 46Discussion and Conclusion 47References 513 Ex‐Partner Stalking in Finland: Children as Knowing Agents in Parental Stalking 55Merja Laitinen and Anna NikupeteriIntroduction 55Finland as a Research Context for Ex‐Partner Stalking 57Method 58Dimensions of Children’s Knowing Agency 60Children’s Various Knowing Agency 71Conclusion 73Acknowledgments 74References 744 Unwanted Attention: A Survey on Cyberstalking Victimization 77Majeed Khader and Stephanie ChanIntroduction 77Characteristics of Cyberspace 78Defining Cyberstalking 79Reviewing the Literature on Cyberstalking 79Impact of Cyberstalking on Victims 80Victims’ Actions and Coping Efforts 81Recent Developments in the Cyberstalking Landscape in Singapore 81Three Surveys of Cyberstalking in Emergent Adults in Singapore 82Methodology 83General Discussion on Three Singapore Surveys 100Study Limitations 102Conclusion 102Acknowledgments 103References 103Examples of Cyberstalking 108Survey Questionnaire 1095 Is there a “Best” Stalking Typology?: Parsing the Heterogeneity of Stalking and Stalkers in an Australian Sample 115Troy E. McEwan and Michael R. DavisIntroduction 115Offense and Offender Classification Schemes 116A Brief History of Stalking Classification Schemes 117Which Typology to Use? 122Aim and Approach of the Current Study 123Method 123Results 125Discussion 128Support for each of the Commonly Used Stalking Typologies 129Choosing which Typology to Use 132Conclusion 133Acknowledgment 133References 1346 Public Familiarity and Understanding of Stalking/Harassment Legislation in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States 137Adrian J. Scott, Nikki Rajakaruna, Megan A. Handscomb, and Georgina A. H. WaterworthIntroduction 137Method 141Findings 144Discussion 151References 155Part II: National Portraits 1597 Stalking Perception, Victimization, and Anti‐Stalking Response in the Lithuanian Context 161Ilona Laurinaitytė and Ilona MichailovičIntroduction 161Issues of Stalking Definition 162Prevalence of Stalking 164Stalking and Gender‐Based Stereotypes 168Stalking: Legal Protection and Prevention 170Conclusions 171References 1728 Stalking and Intimate Partner Violence Prevention from Ecological and Public Health Perspectives: The Spanish Experience 175Montse Subirana‐Malaret, Ana Martinez Catena, and Jacqueline GahaganAn Introduction to Intimate Partner Violence 175The Criminalization of Stalking in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Spain 177The Evolution of Social Perceptions of IPV in Spain and its Legislation 179Quantifying IPV in Spain: An Overview of Available Data 181Inclusion of Stalking in Crimes against Freedom in the Spanish Penal Code 185Latest Measures against IPV in Spain and the Repercussions Emerging from the Most Recent Social Movements 187Violence Prevention in the Context of Ecological and Public Health Approaches 189References 1909 Stalking as a Phenomenon in a Danish Context 195Lise Linn Larsen, Dianna Bomholt, and Helle HundahlIntroduction 195Danish Stalking Centre 197Stalking as a Phenomenon 197Stalking as Violence 199Stalking as a Social Problem 204References 20710 Stalking in Portugal: From Numbers to the New Challenges 209Celia Ferreira and Marlene MatosIntroduction 209The Experience of Fear 210The Situation in Portugal 211Criminal Statistics 218Difficulties and Post‐Criminalization Challenges 221References 22311 Stalking in South Africa 227Gerard Labuschagne and Bronwynn StollarzIntroduction 227Stalking in a Multicultural Society 228Legal Aspects in South Africa 230Case Example: State vs. Walabh 236Case Example: Intimate Partner Stalker 238Case Example: Workplace Stalking in the Mental Health Care Environment 240Conclusion 241References 241Part III: Policy and Best Practice 24512 The Dutch Model: A New Approach to Policing Stalking 247Cleo Brandt and Bianca VoermanThe Challenges of Defining Stalking from a Dutch Perspective 247The Potential Consequences of “Missing” Stalking 249Key Problems Leading to Inadequate Response by Dutch Police 252Developing a More Effective Response to Stalking 259A Structured Police Approach to Stalking 259Conclusion 265References 26613 Risk Assessment and Management of Stalking in Sweden: The Importance of Fear as a Victim Vulnerability Factor 269Susanne StrandIntroduction 269Prevalence of Stalking Victimization 271Fear as a Victim Vulnerability Factor 272Stalking Victimization 274Policing Stalking 276Risk Assessment and Risk Management of Stalking 278Collaboration for Better Protection of Victims 281Conclusion 282References 28314 Hashtag You’re It: Limitations of Psycho‐Legal Responses to Online Interpersonal Harm 287Luke Bartlett and Annabel ChanLawful Good: A Proposed Framework for Sentencing Online Harmful Behaviors 287Old DOS, New Tricks 290Zeroes Versus One: How People Behave Badly Online 290Mass Effect: When People Behave Badly Together Online 291Invisible and Indivisible: Why People Behave Badly Online 293If a Tree Falls in Cyberspace: Accountability for Online Harm 294Murder, She Posted: Legality of Online Threats 296Fuzzy Logic: Analysis of Psychological Assumptions Made in Cyberthreat Law 297Capacity to Assess for Intent, and Estimation of Probable Fear 298Online Threats, Offline Harm 301To Kill a Mocking Tweet 304References 30515 Stop Stalking—But How? 309Olga Siepelmeyer and Wolf Ortiz‐MullerIntroduction 309Offer and Access 310The Rationale of Counseling—Integration of Methods 312Validate to Change—The Dialectic between Process and Confrontation 315Tell Me Why—Formulation as the Case Conceptualization 317Give Me a Point—Strengthening the Healthy Adult 320Stop It! Limiting the Problem Behavior 321To Change or Not to Change? Motivational Issues 322What Comes when Stalking Goes? Working with Pathological Grief 326Does it Really Work? Results of a Retrospective Survey 327Conclusions 329References 32916 National Stalking Clinic: A UK Response to Assessing and Managing Stalking Behavior 335Sara Henley, Alan Underwood, and Frank FarnhamIntroduction 335Legal Changes 336Theoretical Approach 337Setting up the Clinic 338Descriptive Analysis of the First 60 Cases 341Case Examples 343Summary and Conclusions 349References 35017 The Danish Stalking Centre, 2019 351Lise Linn Larsen, Dianna Bomholt, and Helle HundahlIntroduction 351Target Group for the Intervention Center 352The Conceptual Framework of the Intervention and its Perspective 352Helpline 354Referral for Professional Multidisciplinary Interventions 356Professional Multidisciplinary Services 359Psychotherapy at the Danish Stalking Centre 360Psychotherapy for Stalking Victims 361Intervention for Children and Families of Stalking Victims 365Psychotherapy for Stalkers 366Knowledge of the Target Group and Effect 370Knowledge Center 372Cooperation Across Authorities and Sectors 374Future Goals for Danish Stalking Centre 379References 379Conclusions 381Lorraine Sheridan and Heng Choon (Oliver) ChanConcluding Remarks 381Author Index 387Subject Index 393