Stalking: a new form of extreme harassment

Following a person, calling him on the phone, sending him gifts, letters or messages, are behaviors that seen in isolation, do not contain criminal connotations or imply no crime, but what happens when someone decides to focus them on a single person and carry them out repeatedly, sometimes making them fear for their lifetime?

This is the case of Stalking or pressing bullying syndrome.

What exactly is stalking?

Although there is still no scientifically established definition for this phenomenon, a series of characteristics can be found that the authors coincide in mentioning. According to these, this syndrome describes a pattern in which the affected (stalker), which can be both male and female, obsessively and persistently persecutes a victim, without their refusals changing their mind.

The stalker uses all kinds of means to get closer to the victim, phone calls, text messages, e-mails, letters, writes his name In public places, he sends her gifts, he spies on her home, follows her and harasses her on the street or at her workplace, in public spaces, etc. In the most serious cases, the victim may receive threats, see their internet accounts hacked (both public profiles and emails) and / or suffer 

some kind of violent crime.

The effects of stalking on the harassed person

No wonder why the person who suffers this continuous harassment presents pictures of anxiety, insecurity and fearin addition, of a continuous fear for their physical integrity and feelings of persecution and destabilization.

For these reasons, on many occasions they are forced to change their daily habits, their telephone number and, sometimes, even their work and home.

Psychological profile of the stalker

Who can become a victim of persistent bullying syndrome? The answer to this question is still disturbing, since anyone can be affected and become a victim of this type of harassment. It would be logical to think that this type of behavior only occurs in people who have previously maintained some type of relationship sentimental, but the reality is that they can also happen with friends, neighbors, co-workers or even with a a stranger. So, apparently, it is not necessary that a degree of intimacy of the victim with the stalker has previously existed.

From psychology an attempt is made to give an explanation to the causes that motivate the behavior of the stalkers. Some authors affirm that behind their behaviors there are feelings of anger, hostility, obsession, feelings of guilt or jealousy and malice. These feelings are what have led to a classification based on which is the feeling that predominates in each stalker.

• Resentful stalker: His main motivation is to scare and upset the victim for whom he feels resentment and resentment.
• Predator stalker: This type of stalker stalks the victim for sexual reasons until he finds the time to attack her.
• Stalker rejected: In this case, he stalks the victim with retaliatory intentions or to resume a relationship that the victim has broken up.
• Ineffective suitor stalker: It is usually a person with few communication skills and few social relationships, so it can become obsessed with someone with whom it identifies.
• Stalker eager for intimacy: The main motivation of this stalker is an irresistible desire for a loving relationship with the victim, whom he considers her soul mate.

Extreme harassment in the Spanish Penal Code

Despite the serious repercussions that this type of behavior can have for the victim, Until relatively recently, in Spain there was no law regulating this type of harassment.

It is not until the entry into force of Organic Law 1/2015 of March 30 that modifies the previous Organic Law 10/1995 of the Penal Code, which is begins to value Stalking as a crime that threatens the freedom of the person to act and that can carry a prison sentence of between three months and two years or fines ranging from six to twenty-four months, “increasing the penalty if the victim is especially vulnerable due to age, illness or situation".

Bibliographic references:

• Lorena Pérez (2016). Stalking: characteristics of bullying behaviors. Available in ForCrim: http://www.forcrim.com/stalking-caracteristicas-acoso/