Self-perceptions of stalking victimization and impacts on victim reporting

Abstract

Stalking as a behavior is not new; however, less than two decades have passed since the behavior was criminalized. First recognized in the USA in 1990 as a criminal behavior, the study of stalking and its impact on victims is also relatively new. The current study examined the various stalking-related behaviors and whether exposure to these behaviors was related to respondents’ self-perception of being a stalking victim. This is important as stalking continues to be a crime in which victims are less likely to report their victimization. The results of the current study revealed that being followed, spied upon, having property vandalized, and receiving unwanted emails were significant predictors of a respondent self-identifying themselves as a stalking victim. However, only a small percentage of respondents in the current study actually reported their victimization (10%), with feeling threatened and purchasing personal protection devices being the only significant predictors of whether a victim would report their victimization to law enforcement.

Keywords:

• stalking
• victim recognition
• victim reporting
• law enforcement policy
• community education and awareness