Critique of the Article “A Study of Women Who Stalk”

This critique analyzes the article “A Study of Women Who Stalk” and discusses the comparison between male and female stalkers, their motivations, and the limitations of the study. It also highlights the changing nature of women stalkers and the importance of studying this phenomenon.

Running Head: CRITIQUE OF THE ARTICLE “A STUDY OF WOMEN WHO STALK”
Critique of the Article “A Study of Women Who
Stalk”

1Critique of the Article “A Study of Women Who Stalk”
Table of Contents
Introducing the Article “A Study of Women Who Stalk”.........................................................2
Analysis of the article.................................................................................................................2
A critical comparison of Article.................................................................................................3
Concluding note.........................................................................................................................5
References..................................................................................................................................6

2Critique of the Article “A Study of Women Who Stalk”
Introducing the Article “A Study of Women Who Stalk”
The article entitled "A Study of Women Who Stalk” outlines a comparison of pursuit
and demographic physiognomies of men and women referred to a community forensic mental
health hospital as a result of their stalking behaviours. Depiction of female stalkers did not
undergo any differences of their male counterparts based on their demographic profiles and
psychiatric statuses like studies done on a random community related to victimisation and
psychiatric morbidity (Purcell, Pathe & Mullen, 2005, P.418). However, male stalkers are
attributed to histories of criminality and material abuse. The invasiveness and time of stalking
functions were corresponding between two groups, as were the levels of related threats and
violence (Purcell, Pathé & Mullen, 2002). Raising questions indicate to the concern of
whether female stalkers can be distinguished from the male stalkers and was their selection of
victims, the fundamental motivation for their stalking and the context in which their
behaviour developed. Further, this study will explore other corners of the investigation study
undertaken and reflected in the article with supportive arguments.
Analysis of the article
Initially, the report ("A Study of Women Who Stalk") divides the female and male
stalkers according to their motivation levels, and the other parameters are pursuit
characteristics and demographical traits. Purcell, Pathé & Mullen, (2002) have outlined that
demographic traits do not help in distinguishing female stalkers from their male counterparts,
Strand & McEwan (2011, p.549) have pointed out that rates of violence were not distinctly
varied among male and female stalkers. Studies have pointed out that among 31% male and
23% of females can be accounted for violence. These cases of violence are significantly
associated with a combination of a previous connection or relationship with the victims.
Therefore, form this point of view, analysis in the article is stating effective results.
Comparison stated of male and female stalker in the article mentioned above reflects that
there are motivational factors that divide and influence the female stalker majorly rather than
their male counterpart. These divisions as per the motivational level can be compared with
the "Mullen’s stalker typology” (Mullen, Pathé & Purcell (2001, p.11).
It has been found out that around ten women stalkers were considered as “rejected
stalkers” who communicated to the rejection of a close relationship by pursuing the victim

3Critique of the Article “A Study of Women Who Stalk”
(Mechanic, 2000). This statement has been included in the article and results could be
justified by the typological explanation. According to West & Friedman (2008), “the rejected
stalkers were the major group (n=52), and their performance was carried out by the
termination of a relationship, usually with a romantic spouse, but also with alienated mothers,
shattered friendships, or stressed work relationships”.
On the other hand, this article discussed motivational factors related to women
stalking. It has addressed the fact that closely associated with the choice of individuals among
female stalkers was the motivation for the stalking (Kamphuis & Emmelkamp, 2000, p.207).
For instance, results have shown that around one-half, the stalking developed from a desire to
oven a romantic or intimate relationship with the victim (Laura Richards, 2019). This result is
proving the statement that often female and male stalkers desire contact with the victim and
continue in their search despite, or unaware too, the victim's rejections and reactions.
A critical comparison of the Article
Commenting on the limitations; the initial statement that comes to light is this article
and undergone study have expressed that female stalkers are no less likely than the male
stalkers in terms of attacking or threatening victims. This article shows that tenacity of
violence by female and male stalkers are interestingly similar. This result is contradicting to
the fact that female stalkers prefer telephone calls more often to stalk or threaten their victims
that their male counterparts (Purcell, Pathé & Mullen, 2002). This means female stalkers are
less physically violent than the male ones. Although various studies and examples around the
world are showing different results of female stalking incidents (Spitzberg, Cupach &
Ciceraro, 2010, p.278). Other models are asserting the fact that female stalkers can be as
violent as their male counterparts and sometimes emotionally and mentally worse than their
male counterparts (Peytchev, Baxter & Carley-Baxter, 2009). These examples are covering a
vast field of studies was consisting of the educational field to the professional areas
(Carabellese, Tegola, Tamma & Catanesi, 2012, p.35).
On the other hand, another thing this study has shown that female stalkers are mostly
disconnected individuals with children who seek intimacy. Though, this statement is marking
limitations of the study supervised in “A Study of Women Who Stalk”. However, this study
has stated that all the results related to this context are contradicting the popular beliefs, but

4Critique of the Article “A Study of Women Who Stalk”
no mention or clarification of favourite ideas have been made in this article (E Davis &
Frieze, 2019).
Another important thing is that this article has stated the fact that women stalkers
certainly are the primary victims of the crime of stalking, however, in significantly major
case studies, women stalkers are considered as the perpetrators. This study has shown the fact
that female stalkers have high level of mental illness than their male counterparts, which is
contradicting the studies of Lyndon et al. (2012, p.305), in which; it has been proved that
female stalkers can often manage their psychological and depressive characteristics, where
men are not able to oppress their depressions so often. On the other hand, Korkodeilou (2017,
p.28) has pointed out that understanding of the causes behind gender differences in female
and male stalking might be of specific interests in evaluating different outcomes about gender
role in stalking transmission and victimisation. According to Logan (2010), various studies of
stalking have found out that females outnumber men in perpetration. This article (“A Study
of Women Who Stalk”) is limited in showing and analysing gender role regarding
victimisation and perpetration cases of women stalking.

5Critique of the Article “A Study of Women Who Stalk”
Concluding note
Though the article "A Study of Women Who Stalk" has its limitations, form the above
analysis, it has been understood that various essential facts regarding changing nature of
women stalkers have been pointed out in this research. These facts are necessary for
evaluating the current conditions of women stalking studies around the globe.

6Critique of the Article “A Study of Women Who Stalk”
References
Carabellese, F., Tegola D, L., Tamma, M., & Catanesi, C. (2012). Female stalking: a
systematic review. Dove Press Ltd, Volume 2012:2, Pages 31—38. doi:
https://doi.org/10.2147/RRFMS.S33924
E Davis, K., & Frieze, I. (2019). Research on Stalking: What Do We Know and Where Do
We Go?. Researchgate. doi: 10.1891/0886-6708.15.4.473
Kamphuis, J. H., & Emmelkamp, P. M. (2000). Stalking–a contemporary challenge for
forensic and clinical psychiatry. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 176(3), 206-209.
Korkodeilou, J. (2017). ‘No place to hide’ Stalking victimisation and its psycho-social
effects. International review of victimology, 23(1), 17-32.
Laura Richards. (2019). Rejected, love-obsessed and erotomanic: Inside the disturbed mind
of a stalker. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/rejected-love-
obsessed-erotomanic-inside-disturbed-mind-stalker/
Logan, T. K. (2010). Research on partner stalking: Putting the pieces together. Lexington,
KY: University of Kentucky, Department of Behavioral Science & Center on Drug
and Alcohol Research.
Lyndon, A. E., Sinclair, H. C., MacArthur, J., Fay, B., Ratajack, E., & Collier, K. E. (2012).
An introduction to issues of gender in stalking research. Sex Roles, 66(5-6), 299-310.
Mechanic, M. (2000). Fact sheet on stalking. National Violence Against Women Prevention
Research Center, University of Missouri at St. Louis. Retrieved January, 19, 2007.
Mullen, P. E., Pathé, M., & Purcell, R. (2001). Stalking: New constructions of human
behaviour. Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 35(1), 9-16.
Peytchev, A., Baxter, R. K., & Carley-Baxter, L. R. (2009). Not all survey effort is equal:
Reduction of nonresponse bias and nonresponse error. Public Opinion
Quarterly, 73(4), 785-806.
Purcell, R., Pathé, M., & Mullen, P. (2002). A Study of Women Who Stalk. American
Psychiatric Association Publishing. doi: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.158.12.2056

7Critique of the Article “A Study of Women Who Stalk”
Purcell, R., Pathe, M., & Mullen, P. E. (2005). Association between stalking victimisation
and psychiatric morbidity in a random community sample. The British Journal of
Psychiatry, 187(5), 416-420.
Spitzberg, B. H., Cupach, W. R., & Ciceraro, L. D. L. (2010). Sex differences in stalking and
obsessive relational intrusion: Two meta-analyses. Partner Abuse, 1 (3), 259-285.
Strand, S., & McEwan, T. (2011). Violence among female stalkers. Cambridge University
Press 2011, Volume 42(Issue 3 March 2012), pp. 545-555. doi:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291711001498
West, S., & Friedman, S. (2008). These Boots are Made for Stalking: Characteristics of
Female Stalkers. Psychiatry (Edgmont). Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2695740/#B8