Research Guides: Student Life & University Libraries: National Stalking Prevention &amp; Awareness Month

January is National Stalking Prevention & Awareness Month. Since 2018, Student Life has observed this initiative and provides educational opportunities to learn more about this serious crime, which is motivated by power and control and often escalates to perpetration of sexual assault. On the Texas A&M University campus alone, 19.4 percent of students (n=3,140) indicated that they had experienced at least one type of stalking behavior since enrolling at the school; 7.4 percent of these same students were the recipients of stalking behavior more than once and sustained fear for their safety and/or emotional distress as a result (Association of American Universities Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Misconduct, 2019).

See the calendar of events and programs at tx.ag/IVPAwarenessMonths

The resources below are available to help you build your knowledge during the month of January and throughout the year.

Books
Films & Podcasts

The Psychology of Stalking: Clinical and Forensic Perspectives by J. Reid Meloy (Editor)
ISBN: 0124905609
Publication Date: 1998
Print

The Psychology of Stalking is the first scholarly book on stalking ever published. Virtually every serious writer and researcher in this area of criminal psychopathology has contributed a chapter. These chapters explore stalking from social, psychiatric, psychological and behavioral perspectives. New thinking and data are presented on threats, pursuit characteristics, psychiatric diagnoses, offender-victim typologies, cyberstalking, false victimization syndrome, erotomania, stalking and domestic violence, the stalking of public figures, and many other aspects of stalking, as well as legal issues. This landmark text is of interest to both professionals and other thoughtful individuals who recognize the serious nature of this ominous social behavior.
Stalking, Harassment, and Murder in the Workplace by Bernadette H. Schell; Nellie M. Lanteigne
ISBN: 1567203221
Publication Date: 2000
Print

Schell and Lanteigne provide a clear, objective, responsible, and readable analysis of the facts of stalking crimes against people in the workplace and a practical guide to protecting the organization against them. The authors have taken as their purpose the task of helping to reduce the potential for workplace and personal tragedies. They not only make people aware of the stalking cycle and the stages commonly found in stalking incidents, but they give ways to prevent the cycle from escalating into disaster. Their goal is to help organizations develop policies and strategies to identify and suppress stalking before it's too late. Their book is unique in several ways: it expands on other presentations of the topic; it goes into detail about how stalking victims act and react and why they deny that stalking is happening to them, and it provides clinical insights into the ways stalkers think and behave and why.
Surviving Stalking by Michele Pathé
ISBN: 0521009642
Publication Date: 2002
Print

Surviving Stalking is a practical and comprehensive 2002 survival manual for victims of stalking and related crimes. It offers sound, realistic, practical advice to victims and also gives guidance through each stage of the criminal justice processes in America, Britain and Australia. Using case descriptions, Michele Pathé describes the traumatic effects of stalking, the course of these symptoms, and how best to access psychological care and support. It is the first comprehensive book for a general readership providing a contemporary account of victim types, stalker types, stalkers' motives, strategies to prevent and overcome stalking, and a list of the resources available to victims of stalking. Surviving Stalking will be of great interest not only to those who have been or are being stalked, but also to the health, law enforcement and legal professionals who work with stalkers and their victims.
The Dark Side of Relationship Pursuit: From Attraction to Obsession and Stalking by William R. Cupach; Brian H. Spitzberg
ISBN: 1410609901
Publication Date: 2004
eBook

Authors William R. Cupach and Brian H. Spitzberg synthesize the expanding multidisciplinary base of knowledge about obsessive relational intrusion (ORI) and stalking, presenting a comprehensive scholarly consideration of these behaviors. Their inclusive approach is reflected in the breadth of research represented, including social, clinical and forensic psychology, psychiatry, counseling, communication, criminal justice, law enforcement, sociology, social work, threat assessment and management, and family studies. The work also draws upon the multidisciplinary scholarship on social and personal relationships.
Stalking and Domestic Violence by L. G. Wang (Editor)
ISBN: 1594540551
Publication Date: 2004
Print

This new book presents analyses crucial for understanding the current situation with respect to this insidious and cowardly phenomenon.
Partner Stalking: How Women Respond, Cope, and Survive by T. K. Logan; Jennifer Cole; Lisa Shannon; Robert Walker
ISBN: 0826137563
Publication Date: 2006
Print

It is estimated that a quarter of all women will be stalked in their lifetime. Stalkers put their victims in danger of losing their jobs, their support system, even their lives; and subject them to dangerously high levels of fear and stress. This book examines the multiple aspects of partner stalking from the victim's perspective. Female survivors share their personal stories of partner stalking, and the authors provide an extensive look at the latest stalking research providing readers with the new most relevant implications for practice and future research.
LGBTQ Intimate Partner Violence: Lessons for Policy, Practice, and Research by Adam M. Messinger
ISBN: 9780520961357
Publication Date: 2017
eBook

Nationally representative studies confirm that LGBTQ individuals are at an elevated risk of experiencing intimate partner violence. While many similarities exist between LGBTQ and heterosexual-cisgender intimate partner violence, research has illuminated a variety of unique aspects of LGBTQ intimate partner violence regarding the predictors of perpetration, the specific forms of abuse experienced, barriers to help-seeking for victims, and policy and intervention needs. This is the first book that systematically reviews the literature regarding LGBTQ intimate partner violence, draws key lessons for current practice and policy, and recommends research areas and enhanced methodologies.

Films

Netizens
After their lives are overturned by vicious online harassment and privacy violations, NETIZENS follows three women as they seek justice from the internet. Available through Apple TV and HBO Max, or on the host website.
Stalked: Murder in Slow Motion
Documentary series telling the stories of young women killed by their stalker ex-partners. Available through Channel 5 Broadcasting host website.
Your Biggest Fan: The Death of Rebecca Schaeffer
In 1989, the young actress Rebecca Schaeffer was shot to death by an obsessed fan who had stalked her. Available through ABC host website.

Podcasts

I'm Not In An Abusive Relationship
A podcast about surviving domestic and sexual violence. Claudia Pahls and Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services explore the hope in what can seem like a hopeless situation. Our goal with “I’m Not in an Abusive Relationship” is to bring you stories of hope to inspire, and conversations with experts to offer insight and advice. The inspiration for the show and the name of the podcast came from a survivor. In her story, she referenced the fact that she didn’t see herself in an abusive relationship. She didn’t think it was “that bad.” Our hope is that anyone in that situation can hear their story in these episodes, find hope and find help.
Save Your Sanity - Help for Toxic Relationships
The Save Your Sanity podcast offers episodes filled with the expert insights, validation, strategies, and support you need to recognize, manage, and recover from relationships with the relentlessly difficult, toxic--and often disturbing--people host, Dr. Rhoberta Shaler, calls Hijackals®.
Strictly Stalking
Strictly Stalking is a True Crime Podcast that starts before others: at the stalking. Each week hosts Jaimie Beebe and Jake Deptula dive into unique stalking cases, interviewing stalking survivors, advocates, and experts.

This Research Guide is made in collaboration with Student Life. The resources highlighted and listed have been vetted by the Substance Misuse and Violence Prevention staff and are meant to help provide accurate and helpful information surrounding the topic of the guide for all Aggies to access and use.