Factors underlying stalking and harassing behavior in a college population

At the high end of unwanted pursuit behavior is stalking. This study, using questionnaires, investigated a sample of 48, college females, identified as potential stalkers. Factors examined included: demographic information, social desirability, psychological functioning, attachment, motive, rape myth acceptance, adversarial sexual beliefs, criminal thinking styles, and the actual unwanted pursuit behavior. Hypotheses regarding the criminal thinking styles of the individuals engaging in harassing and stalking behavior were supported at the .05 level. These findings indicate that harassers and stalkers exhibit criminal thinking patterns, such as sacrificing internal control to exert control over the external environment and justifying behavior by externalizing blame. Results also suggest that harassers through their distorted thinking grant themselves permission to disregard the law