NCJ Number
219762
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 22 Issue: 3 Dated: 2007 Pages: 275-289
Date Published
2007
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study compared the personality and social competence attributes of stalkers and normal relational partners.
Abstract
Results indicated a significant difference in the personality and social competence attributes of stalkers versus normal relational partners. Stalkers were more likely to be identified as histrionic and borderline personality types. Stalkers were also considered to be less socially competent and less obsessive-compulsive than normal relational partners. Other findings revealed that most people’s perceptions of stalking and harassing behavior differed from legal definitions. The findings have implications for the development of more precise and practical risk profiles to identify potential stalker personalities. Participants were 385 undergraduate students attending a large public university. Participants completed a series of questionnaires that measured their perceptions of their partners’ or former partners’ personality, interaction style, and obsessiveness. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and logistic regression models. Future research should focus on the theoretical and practical significance of differences between relationship pursuit and stalking behavior. Tables, references