Stalkning : Vad det innebär, dess utveckling och förekomst

Stalking is not unique for the celebrities. Stalking can occur in several ways, and the victims may react differently. Becoming stalked does not always mean a threat or physical persecution, it can also occur as unwelcome gift deliveries or that the stalker "accidentally" shows up on the victim's grocery store, gym, etc.This essay aims to contribute to a uniform definition of stalking and its meaning, and possible development as a social phenomenon. In this essay the focus is on developments in Sweden only (two cities), and after the implementation of the law; Chap 4 4b§ of The Penal Code (BRÅ). This is because the definition of stalking varies from country to country, which makes the laws and development of stalking difficult to compare.The theoretical part of the thesis deals with four research reports that try to explain people's perception of stalking, why it is important to define stalking, when it is stalking and if stalking is a learned behavior. The empirical data consists of interviews with police units and interviews with “ordinary” people; ordinary in the sense that they do not work with stalking.The essay concludes that stalking is an unwelcome behavior that happens to and is performed by both women and men. It involves repeated harassment such as collected data on the victim or unwelcome gifts. The police interviewed do not believe that the definition of stalking used in Sweden needs to be developed but that more court judgments and knowledge in relation to stalking are needed, both for the public, the police and other authorities. With time, as other behavior will be deemed illegal (e.g. harassment online) and illustrate the law, the definition may evolve. Police reports and convictions occur but according to BRÅ there are more complaints than people who argue that they are subjected to stalking. More judiciary is required as well as knowledge for police. Better development can be seen in a few years.Finally, when it comes to stalking between a large and small town there is no overall difference.Validerat; 20150625 (global_studentproject_submitter