Stalking

This article is about the action: to stalk. "Stalk" also refers to a part of a plant; the longish piece that supports the seed-carrying parts of a plant, or, more simply, the stem.

In mathematics, "stalk" usually refers to the idea of the stalk of a sheaf. Rarely, in the context of the Mandelbrot set, a stalk may refer to Pickover stalks.

Stalking is the repetitive harassment or other forms of intrusion upon a person's privacy in a manner that causes and is intended to cause fear in its recipient, commonly exemplified by acts such as following or observing a person persistently and surreptitiously. The vast majority of stalking emerges out of previously existing relationships, and is conducted by people who otherwise are considered "normal," although a relatively small percentage of stalking cases, typically the more severe and persistent cases, are sometimes done out of pathological obsession or derangement. Stalking is a from of psychological abuse.

Stalking may involve the intent to acquire private information or objects. Common victims of stalking include ex-husbands/wives and ex-boy/girlfriends, and people in highly visible or social professions, such as teachers, counselors, doctors, and celebrities. In more extreme cases, stalking leads to threats or violence.

Examples are a fan stalking a celebrity, somebody stalking an ex-lover whom they want back, and other cases of non-reciprocal love.

The legality of the practice is defined differently under different jurisdictions; some define the act as it stands as illegal, while some only define stalking illegal once it becomes threatening or endangers the one being stalked.

Stalkers have been following celebrities around since the advent of yellow journalism. In some cases, the stalking behavior in question is harmless and does not go to extremes. In other cases, however, the celebrities being targeted have to leave their profession for many years while they build a new life (as was the case of Andrea Evans), or the celebrities being targeted by the stalker become the victim of violent attacks (some celebrities, like Theresa Saldana, have been able to live and tell the tale, while others, like Rebecca Schaeffer and John Lennon, did not).

Female celebrities

Paula Abdul, Justine Bateman, Victoria Adams Beckham (aka Posh Spice), Halle Berry, Björk, Toni Braxton, Sandra Bullock, Belinda Carlisle, Cher, Chelsea Clinton, Sheryl Crow, Dominique Dunne (murdered), Sheena Easton, Gloria Estefan, Andrea Evans, Agnetha Fältskog (ABBA), Roberta Flack, Jodie Foster, Deborah Gibson, Kathie Lee Gifford, Sharon Gless, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Caroline Kennedy, Nicole Kidman, Anna Kournikova, Avril Lavigne, Madonna, Barbara Mandrell, Sarah McLachlan, Anne Murray, Bebe Neuwirth, Olivia Newton-John, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kelly Preston, Linda Ronstadt, Jeri Ryan, Meg Ryan, Theresa Saldana (stabbed), Rebecca Schaeffer (murdered), Monica Seles (stabbed), Maria Shriver, Anna Nicole Smith, Britney Spears, Amber Tamblyn, Tanya Tucker, Vanna White, Vanessa Williams, Kate Winslet, Katarina Witt, Catherine Zeta-Jones

Male celebrities

Scott Bakula, David Beckham, Sonny Bono, David Bowie, Dimebag Darrell (murdered), Michael Douglas, Colin Firth, Michael J. Fox, Richard Gere, Mel Gibson, Sean Hannity, George Harrison (stabbed), Chris Isaak, Michael Jackson, Peter Karrie, Michael Landon, John Lennon (murdered), David Letterman, Jerry Lewis, George Michael, Brad Pitt, Ronald Reagan (shot), Dennis Rodman, Axl Rose, Steven Spielberg, Andy Warhol (shot), Jackie Wilson (shot)

See also

• Cyberstalking
• Erotomania

External links and references

• Article on stalking
• Benschop, Albert: Cyberstalking - Menaced on the internet. In: Sociosite - Peculiarities of Cyberspace.
• The Australian Anti-stalking and threat website
• Celebrity Justice
• Stalking Behavior
• Stalking Victims Sanctuary
• Sexual harassment and stalking support and resources