Reyns (2013) argues that proving victim fear in stalking cases is especially difficult because stalking is characterized by repeated victimization that may change the level of fear experienced by a victim over time. In a study using the National Crime Victimization Survey, Reyns (2013) asked people who were categorized as stalking victims based on their responses to the survey whether they experienced fear at the onset or during the course of their perpetrator’s criminal behavior. The stalking tactics used by the perpetrator were also measured such that participants reported whether they were physically stalked, stalked via online or electronics, whether their perpetrator used tracking devices, the severity of the stalking behavior, and how …show more content…
The questionnaire included questions regarding their experience with stalking, how frequently they believe stalking occurs, who is most likely to be targeted with stalking, the extent of harm against stalking victims, and motivations behind a stalker’s behavior. Lambert et al. (2013) found that female respondents, more than male respondents, believed stalking was more common and that the harm done toward victims is very severe. This gender difference is also supported by Black et al. (2011) who shows that females are more likely to be victims of stalking than males, which could explain why female mock jurors are more likely to convict in stalking cases. Specifically, female mock jurors may feel that stalking does more harm to victims than male mock jurors. Additionally, male mock jurors may try to justify a male defendant’s behaviors by attributing his behavior to trying to win a woman back. Dunlap et al. (2014) investigated the relationship between participant gender and attitudes about stalking and gender stereotypes. They found that male mock jurors, more than female mock jurors, supported stalking myth acceptance, which includes beliefs that romanticize stalking as courtship, and victim blaming, which minimized the effects of stalking. Further, higher stalking myth acceptance led to lower ratings of victim fear, lower ratings of the defendant’s intent to cause danger, and lower guilt attributed to the
They believe that the survivor is also in love with them. The stalker sees the survivor as their most ideal partner and even any negative feedback or unwilling behavior seems like love from the survivor. The stalker sees his/her stalking time as an investment time of love for the survivor. The personality characteristics associated with this stalker type are shy and usually have no intimate relationships. The survivor maybe someone they know or just ant stranger. The stalking behaviors are loving and shows a lot of attention. Their behavior may turn violent if they keep being rejected. This stalker will get jealous if the survivor is in a relationship. Its very hard to stop this stalker type from stalking. They view all legal notices as challenges and obstacles that they need to cross and get to their love the
..., & Svenson, O. (2008). Evidence of gender bias in legal insanity evaluations: A case vignette study of clinicians, judges and students. Nordic Journal Of Psychiatry, 62(4), 273-278.
Most people assume that most stalking victims are women, but law officials have found that the number of male and female victims are roughly equal (Brownstein). It has been proven that, “The nature of the relationship between targets and stalkers seems to be different for women and men.” Statistically, females usually know their stalker, while male victims usually have no personal relationship with their stalker (Accomando and Anderson). Most of the time, men will not report that they are being stalked unless they feel it is life threatening because some do not see women as a threat (Wigman). Victims are not powerless, but they are in a rough and dangerous position
Stalker or stalking has been further classified based on typology established by Paul Mullen, Teresa Flower and Rosemary Purcell. It is based on the context in which stalking arose and stalkers initial impetus for containing the victim. There are five types of a stalker: the rejected, resentful, intimacy-seeking, incompetent and the predator . The two precarious of all are rejected and predator stalkers.
As it is in the case of the majority of violent crimes, (Davies and Rogers, 2006) perpetrators of violent crimes, and especially sexual assault related crimes exert additional force by threatening the victim or their families. Male victims also must contend with an additional sense of shame and embarrassment in being identified with a crime that has been typically portrayed in the media as happening to women. This places men at a disadvantage in the reporting process, because their safety and the safety of others is compromised further if the crime is not reported. (Messerschmitt, 2009)
In the case of stalking, which is relatively new in the research arena and thus has a limited evidence base to inform practice, SPJ appears to be the most appropriate as only a detailed and flexible risk assessment process that takes into account the different forms of potential damage can provide a basis for management that reduces the potential harm to the victim and the stalker both (Mullen et al, 2006). Further research into stalking risk factors and comprehensive assessment tools will aid the development of more accurate and detailed procedures specific to the assessment of risk in stalking.
Throughout history, certain crimes have been separated into different categories base on their prevalence. For every crime, the offense and charge is different. In addition, not every crime is committed by the same gender. Crimes such as larceny, fraud, forgery, and prostitution (Chesney-Lind, 1986) tend to be committed more often by women; whereas, assault, murder, trafficking, etc tend to be committed by men. When it comes to the stereotyping of women in the criminal justice system one could say that women present themselves as victims to reach a lesser sentence or that by presenting themselves as victims they will have a longer sentence that will protect them.
The media plays a huge role in forming people's perceptions of crime. Without the media we would remain ignorant to occurrences outside our direct social groups. The media and especially news coverage therefore provides us with an important point of contact with the rest of society. In evaluating its effect on popular perceptions of crime it becomes important to consider where most of the information comes from and how representative it is on actual criminality. If it takes "facts" (the truth, the actual event, a real thing) or if it is heightened to a crime myth. With a myth being based upon "exaggeration" or heightening of "ordinary" events in life. Crime myths become a convenient mortar to fill gaps in knowledge and to provide answers to question social science either cannot answer or has failed to address. Myths tend to provide the necessary information for the construction of a "social reality of crime (Quinney, 1970)." As crime related issues are debated and re debated, shaped and reshaped in public forms, they become distorted into myth, as largely seen in the mass media.
Logan, T., & Walker, R. (2010). Toward a deeper understanding of the harms caused by partner stalking. Violence and Victims, 25(4), 440-453. doi: 10.1891/0886-6708.25.4.440
Lieberman J, Arndt J, Personius J, Cook A. “Vicarious Annihilation: The Effect of Mortality Salience on Perceptions of Hate Crimes”. Law & Human Behavior (Springer Science & Business Media B.V.). December 2001;25(6):547. Available from: Business Source Alumni Edition, Ipswich, MA. Accessed April 1, 2014.
When the victim does not fit the ideal victim attributes which society has familiarised themselves with, it can cause complications and confusion. Experts have noticed there is already a significant presence of victim blaming, especially for cases involving both genders. The fear of being blamed and rejected by the public is prominent in all victims. Victim blaming proclaims the victim also played a role in the crime by allowing the crime to occur through their actions (Kilmartin and Allison, 2017, p.21). Agarin (2014, p.173) underlines the problem of victim blaming is due to the mass of social problems and misconceptions within society. The offender can have “an edge in court of public opinion” if victim blaming exists, resulting in the prevention of the case accomplishing an effective deduction in court (Humphries, 2009, p.27). Thus, victims will become more reluctant to report offences because of their decrease in trust in the police and criminal justice system, leading to the dark figure of
Sullivan, J. (2011, August 18). Stalker for 17 years — since 8th grade — faces long prison term. The Seattle Times. Retrieved from http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2015951550_stalker19m.html
Public opinion leads society to believe in the “good woman – stranger rapist” stereotype. In actuality, females are typically victimized by known perpetrators. According to Catalano (as cited in Kappeler and Potter, 2005, p.43), of all rapes and sexual assaults, seventy percent of women were perpetrated by someone known to the victim; thirty percent were committed by strangers. Regarding homicide, women are nine times more likely to be killed by a family member, a previous or current lover, or an acquaintance. However, Alice Sebold’s case actually played into the stranger stereotype.
Due to a strong cultural bias, society often disinvolves or denies the very existence of a female serial killer. Whereas the male serial killer has been regularly lionized by his outrageous exploits, the female serial killer is typically ignored, viewed as an anomaly (Kelleher p.xi)
Intimate partner stalkers are typically known as the guy who "just can’t let go." These are most often men who refuse to believe that a relationship has really ended. Often, other people - even the victims - feel sorry for them. But they shouldn’t. Studies show that the vast majority of these stalkers are not sympathetic, lonely people who are still hopelessly in love, but were in fact emotionally abusive and controlling during the relationship. Many have criminal histories unrelated to stalking. Well over half of stalkers fall into this "former intimate partner" category.