ABSTRACT
Stalking is perhaps one of the most misunderstood of all of the forms of intimidating and dangerous behaviors batterers and sex offenders engage in. Stalking is difficult to understand because, like other forms of control and psychological abuse, it is often unseen by the professional. In fact, stalkers are very adept at explaining away their behavior and have many rationalizations for engaging in stalking behavior, often portraying themselves as simply being at the same place as the victim by coincidence or by accident. When victims describe their experience of having been stalked, they are often terrified. Professionals may not believe the victims’ claims of being stalked because some of their allegations appear crazy, highly unlikely to have occurred, and again, perhaps, just a misunderstanding. But, make no mistake, batterers and sex offenders who engage in stalking behavior do so in a very planned and methodical manner.
