Stalking is a common type of domestic violence involving someone intruding on another individual's everyday life. Whilst people often joke about stalking harmlessly, stalking is a very common yet serious type of crime, devastatingly affecting the victim’s mental and physical well-being. Stalking can happen in real life or online. In-person stalking can manifest in receiving unwanted letters, the stalker visiting your home or following you around in your daily life, calling friends and family members to learn more about you and so on. Online stalking is less overt but sometimes equally damaging, with the stalker routinely messaging the victim or trying to hack online accounts to obtain personal information. Regardless of whether stalking is happening in real life or online, no one deserves to have their privacy compromised or be made unsafe.
What are the different types of stalking?
There are four types of stalkers; each type of stalker has a unique set of motivations for unwantedly involving themselves in your life.
Simple Obsessional
The most common type of stalker is the simple obsessional. This stalker, who often tends to be male, will end up stalking their ex-wife, ex-lover or former boss. Their obsessive behaviour usually stems from the stalker feeling like they have been wronged somehow within the relationship, which creates an unhealthy fixation.
Love Obsessional
This type of stalker usually knows the victim casually or is an acquaintance. As the stalker falls in love with the victim, they become desperate to show affection towards the victim. We commonly see this form of stalking in the media when celebrities become the target of a fan's obsession.
Erotomania
In this type of stalking, the stalker believes they are in love with the victim and that the love is reciprocated. The stalker will blame an outside force, whether this is a person or a made-up circumstance that is keeping them apart and getting in the way of their love. This type of stalker could pose a serious risk to anyone they think is getting in the way of their and the victim's perceived love.
False Victimisation Syndrome
The final type of stalking, false victimisation syndrome, involves a person who, whether actively or subconsciously, wishes to play the role of the victim. The individual may claim to be being stalked or watched by someone falsely, but in reality, it is the individual engaging in the form of stalking. This more manipulative form of stalking is thankfully very rare.
Protecting yourself from stalking
It is safe to say no one wants to be the victim of stalking, regardless of the type or form it comes in. Thankfully, modern-day spy technology can help us feel more at ease in our homes or when out and about if we are growing concerned about our safety or our loved ones. From spy cameras to GPS trackers and bug-detecting devices, Online Spy Shop have an array of personal security devices which can help you reclaim your personal security.