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Stalking

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Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Definition

Stalking, also referred to in the extant literature as obsessional following, obsessional harassment, and obsessive relational intrusion (Meloy 2001; Rosenfeld and Harmon 2002; Spitzberg and Cupach 2007), consists of a continuum of behaviors involving harassment and threats over time that serve no purpose other than to cause fear in the victim and distress over their safety (Sheridan and Davies 2004).

Historical Background

The Stalking Risk Profile (MacKenzie et al. 2012) categorizes typologies of stalking representing various motivations and precipitating factors.

Rejected stalking results from the dissolution of a close relationship such as former intimate partners. Often the rejected stalker is trying to repair the relationship and with it their sense of self-worth but when this proves fruitless, revenge may be the focus of their behavior.

Resentful stalkingoccurs when the stalker perceives they have been disrespected, humiliated, or have received unfair treatment. The...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Laurie Sperry

  2. School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia

    Mark A. Stokes

Authors
  1. Laurie Sperry
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  2. Mark A. Stokes
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laurie Sperry .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar

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Sperry, L., Stokes, M.A. (2017). Stalking. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102142-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102142-1

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