Intimate Partner Stalking/Pursuit: A Pathophysiology of Attachment Style (original) (raw)
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Look who's stalking: Obsessive pursuit and attachment theory
Journal of Criminal Justice, 2010
Few criminological theories have been applied to the study of stalking perpetration, and even fewer address the presence of underlying psychological mechanisms. Attachment theory describes the ways in which an individual with a chaotic family environment in childhood may develop feelings of insecurity that may lead to increased aggression and violent behavior in adolescence and adulthood. In this study, a sample of college students (N = 2,783) were queried on self-reported stalking behaviors and the revised Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-R) measure of adult attachment. Stalkers scored significantly higher on the insecureanxious scale of attachment and lower on insecure-avoidant scale. Other psychological variables (major/ minor psychiatric diagnoses, depression, and anger-related issues) were also examined, with a history of anger-related diagnosis or treatment positively and significantly associated with stalking perpetration. Implications for theory development in stalking and future research directions are discussed.
Some Thoughts on the Neurobiology of Stalking
Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2005
The authors examine the crime of stalking, including the cognitive traits, emotional reactions, attachment pathology, violence patterns and sex differences of samples of stalking offenders. They focus on two common types of stalkers: 1) those who sustain pursuit of a former sexual intimate who has rejected them; and 2) those who pursue a stranger or acquaintance who has failed to return the stalker's romantic overtures. The authors discuss data from neuroimaging (fMRI) studies of romantic love which suggest that these forms of stalking may be associated with heightened activity of subcortical dopaminergic pathways of the "Reward System" of the brain, perhaps in combination with low activity of central serotonin. The authors propose that this set of neural correlates may contribute to the stalker's focused attention, increased energy, following behaviors, obsessive thinking about and impulsivity directed toward the victim. To further explore the neural systems associated with stalking behavior, they also discuss several biopsychological phenomena associated with romantic rejection, including the "protest response," "frustration attraction," "abandonment rage" and "mate guarding." They illustrate the parallels between stalking and addiction. They conclude that stalking may be associated with a specific set of biological components and they offer suggestions for further research into this pathological emotional/motivational state.
Unwanted Pursuit Behavior After Breakup: Occurrence, Risk Factors, and Gender Differences
Journal of Family Violence, 2015
This study investigated unwanted pursuit behavior (UPB) perpetration in 631 adult expartners. UPB involves the unwanted pursuit of intimacy, a widespread and usually less severe form of stalking. The occurrence and various risk factors of UPB perpetration were examined, accounting for differences between male and female ex-partners and same-and opposite-gender ex-partners. Ex-partners showed on average five to six UPBs after their separation. Male and female and same-and opposite-gender ex-partners displayed an equal number of UPBs. The number of perpetrated UPBs was explained by breakup characteristics (ex-partner initiation of the breakup and rumination or cognitive preoccupation with the expartner), relationship characteristics (anxious attachment in the former relationship), and individual perpetrator characteristics (borderline traits and past delinquent behaviors). Rumination was a stronger predictor in female than male ex-partners. Borderline traits and anxious attachment positively predicted UPB perpetration in opposite-gender but not in samegender ex-partners. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Control Balance, Personality Traits, Attachment, and Communication Styles Associated with Stalking
Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2020
Stalking is associated with negative occupational, physical, social, and psychological consequences, yet little is known about who is at risk of being stalked. The purpose of the current study was to determine if individuals with experiences of being stalked have unique personality traits, attachment, and communication styles. Participants (N = 180; 78% female, mean age = 24, SD = 8.18) completed an online, self-report survey utilizing a cross-sectional, correlational design. Results indicated that 21% (N = 38) of participants reported experiences of being stalked. Those who had experienced stalking had a higher control deficit (t = 3.99, p = .000), higher control surplus (t = 2.14, p = .03), and lower general health scores (t =-2.50, p = .01), as compared to participants who had not experienced stalking. Results also showed that those who had experienced stalking possessed higher scores of openness (F = 5.41, p = .021), neuroticism (F = 5.29, p = .023), and motivation to defer to a dominant partner (F = 46.79, p = .000). A logistic regression revealed that higher scores on neuroticism, motivation to defer to a dominant partner, and extroversion were associated with an increased risk of being stalked, whereas higher scores on interpersonal deference,
2005
This study investigated stalking by former romantic partners. It aimed to identify charac-teristics of relationships differentiating stalking from other post relationship experiences (harassment or no-harassment). A self-report questionnaire completed by 305 female undergraduates assessed experiences during and following termination of the relation-ship. Of the participants, 34.4 % were classified as victims of stalking, 32.1 % as having suffered post relationship harassment and 33.4 % as having experienced no-harassment. Participants experiencing either stalking or harassment were most likely to have experi-enced controlling behaviour and denigration from their former partner during the rela-tionship. Stalking was differentiated from harassment in that stalking victims were more likely to experience violence and sexual coercion during the relationship. These results are consistent with conceptualisations of stalking as a variant or extension of domestic violence. Stalking is a sign...
Journal of Family Violence, 2012
This study reexamined the role of romantic relationship characteristics in unwanted pursuit behavior (UPB) perpetration. Relationship characteristics were investigated accounting for the role of significant breakup characteristics, using data of 396 legally divorced adults and advanced count regressions. Except conflict, the main effects of characteristics of the former relationship didn't contribute explained variance to the frequency of UPBs when controlling for the effects of significant breakup characteristics (initiator status and post-breakup negative affect). However, moderator analyses-investigating the interactions between relationship and breakup characteristics-did reveal significant effects of relationship satisfaction, alternatives, investments, and anxious attachment in interaction with initiator status and of relationship alternatives in interaction with post-breakup negative affect. These findings illustrate that the association between relationship characteristics and UPB perpetration is more complex than previously thought and are theoretically and clinically valuable.
ASSOCIATED CHARACTERISTICS OF STALKING FOLLOWING THE TERMINATION OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS
2000
This study investigated stalking by former romantic partners. It aimed to identify characteristics of relationships differentiating stalking from other post relationship experiences (harassment or no-harassment). A self-report questionnaire completed by 305 female undergraduates assessed experiences during and following termination of the relationship. Of the participants, 34.4% were classified as victims of stalking, 32.1% as having suffered post relationship harassment and 33.4% as having experienced no-harassment. Participants experiencing either stalking or harassment were most likely to have experienced controlling behaviour and denigration from their former partner during the relationship. Stalking was differentiated from harassment in that stalking victims were more likely to experience violence and sexual coercion during the relationship. These results are consistent with conceptualisations of stalking as a variant or extension of domestic violence.
Parental Bonding and Adult Attachment Styles in Different Types of Stalker*
Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2008
Attachment theory is one of the earliest and most vigorously promoted explanations of the psychological processes that underlie stalking behavior. Insecure attachment has been proposed as impairing the management of relationships, thus increasing the propensity to stalk. The current study explored the parental bonding and adult attachment styles of 122 stalkers referred to a specialist forensic clinic. Stalkers were grouped according to two common classification methods: relationship and motivation. Compared to general community samples, stalkers were more likely to remember their parents as emotionally neglectful and have insecure adult attachment styles, with the degree of divergence varying according to stalker type and mode of classification. In offering support for the theoretical proposition that stalking evolves from pathological attachment, these findings highlight the need to consider attachment in the assessment and management of stalkers. Also emphasized is the importance of taking classification methods into account when interpreting and evaluating stalking research.
Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
This study examined whether anticipating interacting with a partner higher in attachment insecurity predicted greater physiological threat in an emotion regulation context. Eighty-eight couples watched an emotionally negative film clip, prepared to discuss the video with their partner, and then engaged in a conversation. One dyad member ( regulator) was randomly assigned to express versus suppress affective displays while his/ her partner ( target) was given no additional instructions. Greater partner avoidance was associated with stronger physiological responses consistent with the experience of threat—sympathetic arousal coupled with increased vascular resistance—when regulators anticipated suppressing versus expressing affective displays. Greater partner anxiety was associated with greater physiological threat responses regardless of the emotion regulation context. Threat responses also manifested during the conversation: Regulators and targets with highly avoidant partners exhib...