WHAT MOTIVATES A STALKER?

Stalkers can be driven by several different reasons, and most have stalked more than one person in their lifetime. Stalkers are obsessed with their victims, and this obsession is expressed in many ways. Some common reasons for this obsession include power, control, and sometimes revenge.

Most stalkers don’t take responsibility for their actions – they blame others for making them do what they do (check out DARVO for a better understanding http://dynamic.uoregon.edu/jjf/defineDARVO.html). Stalkers who have had intimate relationships with their victims have been shown to be much more aggressive and violent (both male and female perpetrators). Relationship violence perpetrators often stalk their victims during the course of the relationship and especially after the victim leaves the relationships.

Each year, 6.6 million people are stalked in the United States.  Women are nearly three times more likely to be stalked than men.  It is important to remember both men and women can be victims of stalking.  Nearly 3 in 4 victims know their offender in some capacity.▪ From Network of Victim Assistance http://www.novabucks.org/otherinformation/stalking/ 

WE NEED TO CHANGE THESE STATISTICS – WE NEED TO ALL PULL TOGETHER TO SAY THIS HAS GOT TO STOP, AND WE NEED TO MAKE ALL THE CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE IN ORDER TO PROTECT THESE VICTIMS – AS WELL AS OUR OWN LOVED ONES THAT COULD BECOME VICTIMS…NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE!