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Groves, R. M. and Salfati, C. G. (under review)

Stalking: The Influence of Prior Offender/Victim Relationship. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships


Abstract:
The present study examined the influence of the prior offender/victim relationship on offender stalking behavior. The actions that were present within the stalking offences were recorded using content analysis of victim and witness statements, and all other relevant material within the police files of 50 stalking cases. The sample was analyzed using a non-metric multidimensional scaling procedure known as Smallest Space Analysis. The results indicated that when a prior sexual relationship existed between the offender and the victim, the offender engaged in a majority of controlling style actions. However, offenders that did not have a prior sexual relationship with the victim engaged in a majority of infatuation style actions. Therefore, the study lends support for the influence of prior relationship on the actions that offenders engage in over the stalking period. Implications of the study and future research ideas are discussed.

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