Association of Threat Assessment Professionals ATAP Great Plains

Stalking: Not Just a Secret Admirer Gary Plank Forensic Services All Rights Reserved PFS

Stalk To pursue quarry or prey stealthily (Merriam Webster’s New Collage Dictionary) All Rights

Stalk To hover (Funk & Wagnall’s Standard Desk Dictionary, 1979) All Rights Reserved PFS

Stalking “the willful, malicious, and repeated following and harassing of another person that threatens

Stalking An unwanted repeated course of conduct which infringes on the privacy of the

Myths About Stalkers Are Perpetuated by Hollywood • • The Graduate Flash Dance Heartbreak

Male Stalkers are often portrayed as “getting the girl”. All Rights Reserved PFS 2010

The Movie “Standard” When Men Stalk Women They Live “Happily Ever After. ” When

Persistence only proves persistence, it does not prove love. All Rights Reserved PFS 2010

Stalking Typologies • Simple Obsessional • Love Obsessional • Erotomania • False Victimization (Zona,

Madonna Stalked By Hoskins Madonna (AP) Madonna was stalked by Hoskins who was a

The typology of the stalker is defined by what the relationship is/was between the

Simple Obsessional (47%) Stalker, usually male, knows victim as an ex-spouse, ex-lover, or former

Love Obsessional (43%) Stalker is a stranger to the victim but is obsessed with

Erotomania (9. 5%) Stalker, usually female, falsely believes that the victim, usually someone famous

False Victimization The conscious or unconscious desire of a victim to get the attention

FBI Stalking Typologies • Non-domestic • Delusional All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic

Stalking Behavior Continuum Non-delusional -------Delusional (Historic Relationship between stalker and target) All Rights Reserved

Non-domestic Stalker is a stranger to the victim but is obsessed with the victim

Non-domestic (Love Obsessional) Sometimes called the Nuisance Offender Nuisance – a course of action

Non-domestic Stalker Characteristics • No relationship • Identity unknown to target • Hang-up, obscene,

Non-domestic Stalker Characteristics • May place self in position for casual contact • Communications

Domestic Stalker, usually a male, knows the victim due to a former relationship such

Domestic Stalker (Simple Obsessional) Familial or common-law relationship - initial motivation to continue or

Domestic Stalker Characteristics • Stalker’s attitude may become “If I can’t have you –

Delusional Stalker (Erotomanic) False belief that the victim shares the stalker’s feelings and desire

Delusional Stalker Characteristics • Relationship based on stalker’s psychological fixation • Based on idealized

Target is usually a person with high visibility and a higher status. All Rights

Delusional Stalker Characteristics • May begin as “fan mail” • With passage of time

The danger period for an Erotomanic (delusional) is when they are falling out of

Males act out on fantasy with greater force than females. All Rights Reserved PFS

Do NOT Negotiate with Stalkers Negotiations are about possibilities All Rights Reserved PFS 2010

Conditional rejections are not rejections they are discussions • “I don’t want to be

The way to stop contact is to Contact! All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank

Stalking is a way someone can assume power when they are otherwise powerless All

Pre-stalking Behavior All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled

The Domestic or Simple Obsessional pre-stalker while with partner needs to: • • Control

Lecturing to a spouse is a characteristic of a pre-stalker All Rights Reserved PFS

The Domestic Pre- Stalker may make partner: • Quit work • Stop seeing friends

Simple Obsessional Often have been in an abusive relationship as the abuser All Rights

Campaign of Harassment Stalker is letting the victim know they can still control some

Domestic Stalking Statistic Victims who leave a battering relationship have a 75% higher chance

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Stalking “the willful, malicious, and repeated following and harassing of another person that threatens his or her safety” (Meloy & Gothard, 1995, p. 258) All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Myths About Stalkers Are Perpetuated by Hollywood • • The Graduate Flash Dance Heartbreak Kid “ 10” Tootsie Indecent Proposal Pretty Woman All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 • • Where’s Julie Play Misty for Me The Crush Single White Female • Misery • Devil in the Flesh • Swimfan Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

The Movie “Standard” When Men Stalk Women They Live “Happily Ever After. ” When Women Stalk Men It Is Criminal and Dangerous (Fatal Attraction - “Bunny-Boiler” ). All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Stalking Typologies • Simple Obsessional • Love Obsessional • Erotomania • False Victimization (Zona, Sharma, & Lane, 1993) All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Madonna Stalked By Hoskins Madonna (AP) Madonna was stalked by Hoskins who was a delusional stalker Robert Dewey Hoskins (AP) All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Simple Obsessional (47%) Stalker, usually male, knows victim as an ex-spouse, ex-lover, or former boss, who they attempt to establish a relationship with and when rebuffed begin a campaign of harassment. (Zona, Sharma, & Lane, 1993) All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Love Obsessional (43%) Stalker is a stranger to the victim but is obsessed with the victim and when rejected (real or perceived) mounts a campaign of harassment to make the victim aware of the stalker’s feelings. (Zona, Sharma, & Lane, 1993) All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Erotomania (9. 5%) Stalker, usually female, falsely believes that the victim, usually someone famous or wealth, is in love with them. The target is usually unobtainable by the suspect. (Zona, Sharma, & Lane, 1993) All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

False Victimization The conscious or unconscious desire of a victim to get the attention of another by reporting they are the victim of a stalker. (Zona, Sharma, & Lane, 1993) All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Stalking Behavior Continuum Non-delusional -------Delusional (Historic Relationship between stalker and target) All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 (Relationship exists only in the mind of the stalker) Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Non-domestic (Love Obsessional) Sometimes called the Nuisance Offender Nuisance – a course of action that interferes with the legal rights of others by causing damage, annoyance or inconvenience. All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Non-domestic Stalker Characteristics • No relationship • Identity unknown to target • Hang-up, obscene, or harassing calls • Unsigned letters or other communications All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Non-domestic Stalker Characteristics • May place self in position for casual contact • Communications progress from adoration to protestations of love, to annoyance at lack of contact , to threatening and menacing. All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Domestic Stalker, usually a male, knows the victim due to a former relationship such as an ex-spouse, girlfriend, or former boss All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Domestic Stalker (Simple Obsessional) Familial or common-law relationship - initial motivation to continue or re-establish relationship All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Domestic Stalker Characteristics • Stalker’s attitude may become “If I can’t have you – no one can” • History of prior abuse in relationship All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Delusional Stalker (Erotomanic) False belief that the victim shares the stalker’s feelings and desire for a relationship. All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Delusional Stalker Characteristics • Relationship based on stalker’s psychological fixation • Based on idealized love or spiritual union rather than sexual attraction All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Delusional Stalker Characteristics • May begin as “fan mail” • With passage of time activity becomes more intense • Fantasy may not be realized and stalker commits suicide All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

The danger period for an Erotomanic (delusional) is when they are falling out of love with one victim and in love with another victim. All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Conditional rejections are not rejections they are discussions • “I don’t want to be in a relationship right now. ” -Discussion • “I don’t want to be in a relationship with you. ” -Rejection- All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

The Domestic or Simple Obsessional pre-stalker while with partner needs to: • • Control Dominate Remove partner’s control Remove partner’s support system All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

The Domestic Pre- Stalker may make partner: • Quit work • Stop seeing friends • Stop contact with any outside influence All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds

Domestic Stalking Statistic Victims who leave a battering relationship have a 75% higher chance of being killed by their abuser. Stalking usually precedes the homicide. All Rights Reserved PFS 2010 Plank Forensic Services shedding light on troubled minds