Female stalking: a review of the literature

Abstract

Aim of this review was to verify whether it is possible to identify specific traits characterizing female stalking. The main medical databases were searched and 67 articles selected, reporting studies conducted in clinical populations, case series, reports, reviews, retrospective studies and original articles. The non homogeneity of the variables associated with the female stalking phenomenon is attributable to the different study populations (clinical cases, university students, various occupational fields).

Among the more significant characterizing traits that emerged, we underline a greater variety of different behaviors adopted by female stalkers and a lesser propensity to pass on to aggressive actions. In addition, female stalkers are more frequently affected by erotomania, even if this condition generally increases the risk of violence. In a significant proportion of female stalkers the behavior is carried out in the occupational setting, especially in the field of psychotherapy where the male: female ratio is reversed. In the context of female same gender stalking, no significant differences emerged between the motivations of heterosexual or homosexual stalkers. In the category of crimes of harassment committed by women, that are usually less frequent in criminal statistics as compared to those committed by men, stalking seems to be among the most common.