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Insights into the Psychopathological Profile of Stalkers: a Systematic Review.
Fri, September 13, 9:30 to 10:45am, Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest, Floor: Ground floor, Amphitheater 3 „Mihail Eliescu”Abstract
Starting with the classification of types of stalkers proposed by Mullen in 1999, we have been exploring whether studying the psychopathological profile of stalkers can aid in predicting stalking behaviors, recidivism, or the escalation of violence that may lead to more serious crimes. Understanding the psychological characteristics of stalkers is crucial for structuring specific and more effective treatments aimed at preventing recidivism. In our study, we conducted a systematic review of the available literature online and selected 14 articles from a total of 200 results retrieved. Generally, the results indicated a high prevalence of personality disorders among stalkers, particularly those within Cluster B. In contrast to many other crimes, antisocial personality disorder was found to be relatively scarce, while the classification of NAS personality disorder was frequent. This suggests that a combination of several traits may contribute to the characterization of the stalker's profile, rather than a definitive categorical diagnosis. Furthermore, the co-occurrence of a personality disorder and a substance use disorder is associated with an increased risk of violence compared to the presence of either factor alone. Additionally, personality disorders are significantly linked to recurrent stalking, with problematic traits being particularly associated if they belong to Cluster B. Given the significance of this phenomenon, we believe that future research should focus on the psychological and psychopathological profile of stalkers, employing more homogeneous methodologies and possibly adopting a dimensional approach to investigate the dysfunctional mechanisms underlying pathological behaviors, moving beyond categorical diagnoses.