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Abstract
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Obsessional following is a "stalking" behavior in which a person engages in an abnormal or long-term pattern of threat or harassment directed toward a specific individual. In a review of preliminary research during the past 20 years, the author find 10 studies, all nonrandom samples of convenience, published between 1978 and 1995 in which obsessional followers charged with criminal behavior or investigated by law enforcement (N = 180) were identified. Aggregate data from these studies suggest that obsessional followers were likely to be males in their mid to late thirties with prior psychiatric and criminal histories. There was often a chronic history of failed heterosexual relationships and unemployment, but on average the subjects were more intelligent than other criminal offenders. Axis I mental disorders and Axis II personality disorders were common and varied. Approximately one-half of obsessional followers threatened the victims, but usually were not physically violent. Frequency of any personal violence, depending on the study, was 3-36%. Incidence of homicide was less than 2%. The author theorizes that obsessional followers, perhaps a subset of stalkers in general, evidence abnormal, "preoccupied" attachement patterns, their pursuit fueled by a distrubance in their narcissistic fantasy linking them to their victims. Such disruption is usually caused by an acute or chronic rejection that stimulates rage as a defense against shame.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
This aim of this study by Meloy was review research on obsessional follower/stalking behavior.
METHODOLOGY:
A quasi-experimental study was conducted. The author analyzed the content of ten studies of stalking/obsessional following behavior published between 1978 and 1995. All of these studies fit the selection criteria of nonrandom convenience samples and focused on obsessional followers who were investigated by law officials and/or charged with criminal behavior. The author used the following operational definitions. An obsessional follower was, "a person who engages in an abnormal or long-term pattern of threat or harassment directed toward a specific individual" (p. 148). Obsession was defined as, "the repetitive and persistent nature of the idea, thought, impulse or image" (p. 148). Violence referred to, "an intentional act of aggression that results in, or is likely to result in, physical injury to another person" (p. 148). The author utilized descriptive statistics.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The ten studies examined different cohorts from New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, and parts of Europe and Australia. There was a total sample size of 180 (130 males and 49 females). The author found the following demographic characteristics. No conclusions were drawn about race, as 57% of the subjects had no reports of race. The average age of obsessional followers was 35. Most subjects had prior psychiatric and criminal histories. The majority of obsessional followers were underemployed or unemployed. The psychiatric characteristic of erotomania, "love obsessional," was present in different percentages of all 10 study groups. Those researchers who looked at restraining orders found no significant effect in reducing obsessional following behaviors. Men were more likely to be the victims of erotomanic obsessional followers than obsessional followers with different disorders or motivations. Overall, the studies agreed that most obsessional followers did not carry out acts of violence.
The author set out the following conclusions about patterns of violence and threats: 1) About 50% of obsessional followers used threats -- primarily on intimates or acquaintance-level victims. 2) 75% of those who threatened violence did not follow through. 3) It was unusual for non-threateners to commit violence. 4) The frequency range for violence was 3% to 36%. 5) Violent acts tended to not involve a weapon. 6) Homicide incidence was less than 2%. 7) About 80% of the time, the victim of violence was the object of the obsessional follower. 8) The next most likely victims were third parties who impeded the pursuits of the obsessional followers. 9) Emotions were the primary motivator of violence.
The author reported the psychodynamic finding that real contacts between perpetrator and victim served to increase the likelihood of future approaches.
AUTHOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS:
The author recommended that clinical attention should have been directed toward active management of the risk that the offender poses to their human target. Also, the author proposed that future studies adopt a more consistent classification system of victims: 1) those who were strangers, 2) those who were acquaintances, and 3) those who were intimates. The author suggested that future research seek larger samples in different geographic regions, and include comparison groups. Finally, the author listed research areas that awaited study: victim reactions, psychological tests for obsessional followers, longitudinal studies, treatment, and risk management.
EVALUATION:
In general, this study provides a clear summary of important findings on obsessional followers. The author admitted that the small sample size eliminated the possibility of using inferential statistics. It should be noted that no generalizability claims were made. In conclusion, this study offers some insights into the world of the obsessional follower. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - Stalking Offender
KW - Stalking Causes
KW - Adult Violence
KW - Adult Offender
KW - Psychological Factors
KW - Psychological Evaluation
KW - Mental Health Evaluation
KW - 1970s
KW - 1980s
KW - 1990s
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