ABSTRACT
Chapters 1 and 2 addressed the characteristics of stalking and considered the experiences and narratives of both stalkers and victims. It was established that stalking is not a new type of behaviour, but a long standing problem that was not publicly recognised, predominantly due to a lack of commonly understood terminology to describe the conduct. As such, the emergence of stalking as a social problem deemed to necessitate a legislative solution requires some explanation. This chapter examines the processes by which an issue becomes recognised as a social problem and questions whether the emergent construction accurately reflects the reality of the problem. The perceptions and misconceptions of stalking will be outlined as a prelude to a consideration of the problems that may arise if the social construction and actuality of stalking do not correspond, with particular emphasis on the implications of this for the efficacy of legal intervention.
