Citation

Korkodeilou J. Int. Rev. Victimology 2017; 23(1): 17-32.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, World Society of Victimology, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0269758016661608

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Stalking victimisation has for a long time been ignored and minimised, and it has been traditionally regarded as a rare and mostly 'celebrity-related' phenomenon. However, research shows that stalking is far more common, and its impact can be serious and far-reaching. This article reveals and discusses the psycho-social effects of stalking, drawing on the in-depth accounts of twenty-six self-identified victims who were interviewed as part of a study that explored the impact of stalking based on the victims' voices and experiences. The study found that stalking victimisation is life-changing and its psycho-social effects are complex, long-term and often traumatic. The article concludes by considering the implications of these findings where the need is stressed to improve criminological understanding of stalking and its unseen psycho-social harms so that victims and their cases are properly dealt with by the criminal justice system and society.

Language: en