Stalkers can have a variety of backgrounds, motivations and mental illnesses. Still, attempts at classification can be useful in helping victims protect themselves.
Stalking Behavior
Stalkers can be young or old, male or female, professional or unemployed. But most are men who are isolated, socially inept, and often mentally ill. The crime can be motivated by different types of psychopathology, including psychosis and severe personality disorders, and stalkers pursue their victims for a variety of reasons, but all tend to have a narcissistic sense of entitlement to the victim.
Australian stalking expert, Dr. Paul Mullen, found from his study of 145 stalkers, reported in the August 1999 American Journal of Psychiatry, that half the stalkers never had a long-term relationship, and a third were separated or divorced. To facilitate diagnosis and treatment, he classified stalkers into the following five categories.
Types of Stalkers
The Rejected Suitor
Sometimes a partner rejected by their spouse or lover may vacillate between overtures of reconciliation and revenge. They have a narcissistic sense of entitlement and belief this is the only relationship they are going to have. More than 80% of rejected stalkers in Mullen’s study had personality disorders. Therapeutic treatment of the rejected stalker involves helping him or her come to terms with the end of the relationship.
The Intimacy Seeker
The intimacy-seeking stalker intends to establish a relationship with his "true love" regardless of her wishes. More than half of the intimacy seekers Mullen evaluated were delusional, believing that their love was reciprocated, and nearly a third had a personality disorder and a delusion that their quest would be ultimately successful. Legal actions do not work well with intimacy seekers, who may justify their behavior with the belief they must pay a price for true love. The court may order treatment, which should focus on treating their delusions or other mental disorders.
The Incompetent Suitor
This type is typically a man who had been rebuffed after asking a woman for a date. He’s often socially inept, and when rejected, begins to stalk with the hope that his persistent behavior will change the woman’s mind. The incompetent suitors can be responsive to judicial sanctions but are also likely to relapse.
The Resentful Stalker
These offenders express anger in response to a perception that they have been humiliated or treated unfairly by the object of their obsession. They thrive on having a sense of power and control over the victim, and are hard to treat because they often see themselves as the victim.
The Predatory Stalker
The six predatory stalkers in Mullen’s study admitted to preparing to sexually attack a random victim. This type derives pleasure from gathering information about the target and fantasizing about the assault. They often have prior convictions as sexual deviants.
Why Classify Stalkers?
These five categories are, by no means, agreed on by all experts on obsession and stalking. Those engaging in stalking behaviors can have a variety on backgrounds, motivations and mental illnesses. Still, attempts at some type of classification can be useful. A better understanding of different types of stalking behavior may help victims better protect themselves, assist law enforcement in profiling and capturing stalkers and also aid mental health and legal systems in assessing the risk of recidivism and likelihood of rehabilitation.
Stalking Danger
Too often victims do not fully appreciate the true danger of being stalked, and this can be a fatal mistake. If you feel uncomfortable with the repeated advances, gifts or communications of an “admirer,” trust your instincts, and err on the side of caution.
Douglas, J, and Olshaker, M. Obsession. Published by Scribner (1998)
The copyright of the article Stalking Crime: Types of Stalkers in Personality Disorders is owned by Tami Port. Permission to republish Stalking Crime: Types of Stalkers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
I am being stalked by my ex boyfriend. He is trying to turn my friends
against me. He is going all over town and telling people lies about me. He
calls me constantly and text me. He rides by my house all hours of the
night and calls and tells me about it.I have had to go so far as to hide my
car so he would leave me alone. He meets women on the net and then he
eventually breaks up with them and does this all over again.His 4th ex wife
called me and told me he has multiple personality disorder. and that is why
all of them have left him. He flattend his tires and blamed it on me and
told all of my friends that i did this.They dont believe him and they think
he is completly nuts. im scared to come home anymore. I dont know if he is
gonna be waiting on me and im afraid to even leave work to go to my car
because im afraid he will be in the parking lot. T.S.
Jun 7, 2008 11:45 PM
Guest
:
RUUN!!! Jk Jk. (Couldn't Resist)
---------
I have a
stalker. It all started about 9 months ago, when an elderly man (in his
40's?) Moved in about 7 houses down from mine. I am 14 years old, and every
night he is outside my window. I have gravel outside and I can hear when
he's out there. My Neighbor - an elderly lady - told me that she has heard
and seen him IN MY YARD through all hours of the night. My parents are
fully aware of the situation, and we have called the police over a dozen
times. There are further reasons why I believe that the new man that moved
into my neighborhood is the man stalking me, but I won't specify why.
Around 1:00 AM on February 1st, I believe he tried breaking into my house
(The reason I say "I believe" is because I am not sure if it was
him trying to break in, or a random group of other males). All through the
night somebody would tap on my window or my sisters, they would kick the
wall outside of my room so it sounded like a *THUMP* and at first we just
thought it was him just watching us, or doing what ever he does when he's
out there. "Harmless"... I suppose. But a little while later, i'm
not sure if it was 10 minutes or two hours after that, but simultaniously
people started banging on my back door, my side window, my sisters window,
and my bedroom window. Obviously there were more than one
"stalker," intruder, robber... idc - pick one. If they wanted to
break in, they would have. But they didn't. Garunteed they were just trying
to spook us - but why? There were atleast half a dozen cop [cars] at my
house that night. Not only at my house, but patroling - looking - for whom
ever was trying to "break into" my house. The only reason for
them leaving is my mom pulling a tiny glock pistol out of her bedside
droor, and pointing it at a tall, middle weight/(age?) man. she didn't fire
- I don't think I would have had the courage to either. They Left. Later
that week while my mom was talking to one of our neighbors about the
"intrusion," our neighbor notified my mom that on that specific
night, the man whom I believe to be my stalker, was having a
party/getogether - whatever - at his house, and 2 + 2 = 4.
That
was.. idk 3 months ago? 4. 4 months ago. nothing has really changed since
then, just more hearing tapping on my window, this that and the other. but
one day he was parked outside my house, taking pictures at night. with
flash on. Why? "To plan," the cops said. "Grade 5 Stalker.
We can't let him get to a grade 6."
Feb 21, 2009 7:25 PM
Guest
:
To the 14-year-old who posted below: I am very sorry about your
situation. On a separate note, however, men in their 40's are not
"elderly." I wish you the best wtih your situation, meaning I
hope there is an arrest soon.
Feb 23, 2009 11:45 AM
Guest
:
I have had a stalker for 6 years. I can not get any help from anyone. My husband thought for a long time that I knew who my stalker was and
wouldnt take it seriously. The police wont do ANYTHING. Noone knows the
horror you feel being stalked especially if you dont know who it is.I dont
have any idea who this is. Ive seen him outside my house,he has tapped my
phones, let me flowers, etc... I wish there was someone who would take this
seriously before he takes the next drastic step if that is his plan. If I
make it through this not only physically but mentally it will be a miracle.
But then again, they say miracles happen everyday right? YP
Mar 4, 2009 2:09 AM
Guest
:
I have a stalker, it started a few nights ago. He came by my house and sat
in my yard. I don't know what to do, I have went to the police but they
said that scince I don't know his name that there is nothing they can do.I
told them what he looks like, he has came by my job. So until the police
can catch him my gun will stay by my side.
Mar 15, 2009 11:36 AM
Guest
:
I have a stalker for over 2 years. The problem is that he is very disturbed
and mentally ill. He has schizophrenia. He has told people that he is in
love with me and he has pictures of me. He leaves me gifts and cards. I
believe that he has stolen me from but can't prove it. He tries to talk
about to my friends but they know not give out any info. He has been
transferred to another building but he is always over here.He tells people
that I tease him with my clothes and demeanor; people have told me I should
expect his behavior because am an exotic woman, a femme fatale. I don't
that anyone understands me fears.
Jun 2, 2009 10:53 AM
Guest
:
Hi! I'm being stalked by this girl who's "jealous" of me. She
likes this guy who doesn't like her but likes me and cant handle the
rejection. She keeps talking about me, making up stories inside her head
that I have never said at all! She's friends with the guy I like, trying to
manipulate him to dislike me. She keeps driving in a white truck, ripping
her hair out of her head, acting all crazy! I haven't talked to her in 2
months, I deleted her off of facebook bc she's crazy, Ive made no contact
about her at all. She keeps saying to keep her name out of her mouth, I'm a
loner! I'm not talking to anyone about her at all. I dunno how this implies
towards me bc this isn't an ex boyfriend or anything but its a girl
stalking me, its kinda weird bc I don't know what stalking this would fall
under.
Aug 21, 2007
