Anybody can be a victim of stalking, a criminal behavior marked by repeated following and observation. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), around 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men will experience stalking during their lifetime; nearly half reported victimization before the age of 25.
“People stalk because they want something from the victim — an apology, a relationship, sex, fear. In that sense, stalking is goal-directed and purposeful,” says expert Troy McEwan, an expert in clinical and forensic psychology from Swinburne University of Technology in Australia
Experts do find it challenging to understand the psychology behind stalking, but there are some consistent behaviors that give us insight to a stalker’s mind.
