Research into Stalking

In order to make the stalking aspect of our film opening as realistic as possible, I researched into the issue of stalking and how it effects people.

Stalking is a term commonly used to refer to unwanted and obsessive attention by an attention by an individual or group to another person.Stalking behaviours are referred to as harassment and intimidation and may include  following the victim or even monitoring them. Stalking can be defined as the wilful and repeated following, watching or harassing another person. Unlike other crimes they an be a one time offence/ act whereas stalking is a series of actions that occur over a period of time. Although stalking is illegal some of the actions that can contribute to stalking are initially legal such as gathering information, calling someone on the phone, sending  gifts, emailing or instant messaging. They become illegal when they breach the legal definition of harassment . e.g an action such as sending a text is not usually illegal , but becomes illegal when frequently repeated to an unwilling recipient.


When conducting my research I discovered that there are several types of stalkers. I have listed some of them below:

• Rejected Stalkers- pursue their victims in order to reverse, correct, or avenge a rejection, e.g (divorce, separation,termination of a relationship).
• Resentful Stalkers- pursue a vendetta because of a sense of grievance against the victim, the stalker is mainly motivated by the desire to frighten and distress the victim.
• Intimacy Seekers- seek to establish an intimate, loving relationship with their victim. To many of them the victim is a long - sought after soul mate, and they were 'meant' to be together.
• Incompetent Suitors-, despite poor social skills or courting skills, these type of stalkers have a fixation or in some cases a sense of entitlement to a relationship with those who have attracted them their amorous interest. their victims are most often already in a relationship with someone else.
• Predatory Stalkers- spy on their victims in order to prepare and plan an attack- often of a sexual nature on the victim.

I think that our male stalker will be most similar to that of a 'Predatory Stalker', as our male character spies on our victim in order to attack her and then eventually kill her like his previous victims. This research has helped me to pin the conventions and mannerisms of a stalker, to make the stalking aspect in our film opening more realistic and believable.