STALKING

Stalking

Stalking

Stalking is a topic that sways 1.5 million people each year. While women are commonly the general target, men can become victims of stalkers as well (Browder, 2000). Stalkers share alike traits, each of which fuel what they do. Oftentimes a stalker's motives are as effortlessly profiled as their traits. Stalkers routinely share similar character characteristics as well as reasons for doing what they do.

Many stalkers are loners. Because of the lack of other connections, they become severely adhered to the idea of owning a connection with the individual who they are stalking. In numerous situations, the need of proficiency to form relationships starts at a juvenile age. Some stalkers are neglected by their parents, and in turn are unable to form attachments with other people later on in life (Snow, 1997). This causes them to be extremely lonely, which is a main characteristic of a stalker. This lack of personal relationships, combined with a low self-esteem creates a feeling of worthlessness. They feel like without a connection with the person they are stalking, they have no purpose in life. This is one reason for most celebrity stalking. The idea of establishing a connection with a person of high status becomes appealing, because these stalkers believe that they will acquire a higher level of importance (Lewittes, 1998). When this does not happen, stalkers can often become extremely angry, even violent toward that person. Frustration builds up, and they do not know how to deal with the situation. This can sometimes lead to stalker related deaths (Snow, 1998).

Sometimes people will stalk celebrities simply because they desire the fame and status of those people. Michael Lewitte's article "Serial Celebrity Daters" describes the lives of Lisa Chiafullo and Jennifer Young-two girls who are obsessed with being obsessed. Each of these girls began dating the ...