Stalking and the impact of labelling “There’s a difference between my offence and a stalker”

Journal article


Wheatley, R. and Underwood, A. 2023. Stalking and the impact of labelling “There’s a difference between my offence and a stalker”. Journal of Criminal Psychology. 13 (2), pp. 91-104. https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-07-2021-0026
AuthorsWheatley, R. and Underwood, A.
Abstract

Purpose
This paper aims to consider stalking as an offending behaviour and the prevailing narratives associated with this offending behaviour given the increased attention of society and criminal justice. The stereotypes and labels associated with the offending behaviour often sensationalise aspects of those who engage in stalking. Frequently, individuals are portrayed as disturbed, psychopathic, mentally ill, violent and culturally deviant. Sometimes stalking behaviour is perversely downplayed as romantic perseverance. The impact of the stalker label extends outward from the act of marking legal and societal transgression, which impacts upon prospects for rehabilitation and desistance through the shaping of assumptions and maintenance of disempowering connotations.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper considers the impact of the stalking label as a therapeutic-, and perhaps rehabilitation-interfering problem for those who have stalked, drawing on recent research by Wheatley, Winder and Kuss (2020a).

Findings
It discusses the wide-ranging implications of labelling in this context and considers therapeutic approaches for intervention that may encourage rehabilitation engagement, mitigate shame and support desistance from a strengths-based perspective.

Originality/value
This paper draws on recent research exploring stalking case narratives of their own experiences of what drives stalking behaviour, existing labelling literature, and on specialist practitioners’ experiences of working with this group, to influence future thinking and research to address nuances highlighted.

Keywordsstalking ; labels ; desistance
Year2023
JournalJournal of Criminal Psychology
Journal citation13 (2), pp. 91-104
PublisherEmerald
ISSN2009-3829
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-07-2021-0026
Web address (URL)https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JCP-07-2021-0026/full/html
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85148429719&partnerID=MN8TOARS
Output statusPublished
Publication dates20 Feb 2023
Publication process dates
Accepted2022
Deposited15 Jan 2024
Permalink -

https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/q3zw0/stalking-and-the-impact-of-labelling-there-s-a-difference-between-my-offence-and-a-stalker

  • 39
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Exploring the experiences of an autistic male convicted of stalking
Rawdon, N., Vinter, L.P., Allely, C. and Wheatley, R. 2024. Exploring the experiences of an autistic male convicted of stalking. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology. pp. 1-35. https://doi.org/10.1080/14789949.2024.2339537
Stalking Behaviour
Johnstone, L. and Wheatley, R. 2023. Stalking Behaviour. British Psychological Society.
The experiences of people with intellectual disabilities who have been convicted of sexual offences of being recalled back to prison
Rawdon, N. and Wheatley, R. 2023. The experiences of people with intellectual disabilities who have been convicted of sexual offences of being recalled back to prison. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour. 14 (1), pp. 14-27. https://doi.org/10.1108/jidob-11-2022-0008
Stalking: Issues of deterrence “When I was stalking, I was so dedicated to it. Nothing would stop me. It was my focus.”
Wheatley, R., Henley, S. and Farnham, F. 2023. Stalking: Issues of deterrence “When I was stalking, I was so dedicated to it. Nothing would stop me. It was my focus.”. Journal of Criminal Psychology. 13 (2). https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-07-2021-0027
Introduction “stalking: what do we know about working with people who stalk and where do we go?”
Wheatley, R. 2023. Introduction “stalking: what do we know about working with people who stalk and where do we go?”. Journal of Criminal Psychology. 13 (2). https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-07-2021-0024
Stalking, narcissistic vulnerability and the application of schema therapy “I was punishing her for me not being good enough”
Wheatley, R. and Conway, C. 2023. Stalking, narcissistic vulnerability and the application of schema therapy “I was punishing her for me not being good enough”. Journal of Criminal Psychology. 13 (2). https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-07-2021-0025
Classifying Stalking Among Adolescents: Preliminary Considerations for Risk Management
Lewis, M. and Wheatley, R. 2023. Classifying Stalking Among Adolescents: Preliminary Considerations for Risk Management. in: Mellins, M., Wheatley, R. and Flowers, C. (ed.) Young People, Stalking Awareness and Domestic Abuse London Palgrave Macmillan/ Springer. pp. 17-35
The experiences of the keyworker scheme from the perspective of men in prison
Martin, G. and Wheatley, R. 2022. The experiences of the keyworker scheme from the perspective of men in prison. Forensic Update. 140, pp. 11-17. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsfu.2022.1.140.11
Stalking and the role of occupational therapy “you’re not living life to the full if you’re stalking”
Wheatley, R. and Baker, S. 2022. Stalking and the role of occupational therapy “you’re not living life to the full if you’re stalking”. Journal of Criminal Psychology. 13 (2), pp. 120-135. https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-07-2021-0028
The effectiveness of interventions for male perpetrators of stalking: A Rapid Evidence Assessment
Johnson, H., Derefaka, G. and Wheatley, R. 2021. The effectiveness of interventions for male perpetrators of stalking: A Rapid Evidence Assessment. Forensic Update. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsfu.2021.1.138.64
Stalking risk assessment tools: A brief critical review
Dearn, G., Whatson, C. and Wheatley, R. 2021. Stalking risk assessment tools: A brief critical review. Forensic Update. 138, pp. 58-63. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsfu.2021.1.138.58
Stalking
Wheatley, R. 2021. Stalking. in: Gredecki, N. and Turner, P. (ed.) Forensic Psychology Oxfordshire Routledge.
Brief overview of literature reviewing options
Carter, L. and Wheatley, R. 2021. Brief overview of literature reviewing options. Forensic Update. 138, pp. 27-31. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsfu.2021.1.138.27
Researcher-practitioner reflections: the therapeutic utility of the visually adapted repertory grid technique (VARGT) with stalkers
Wheatley, R. and Kuss, D.J. 2020. Researcher-practitioner reflections: the therapeutic utility of the visually adapted repertory grid technique (VARGT) with stalkers. Journal of Forensic Practice. 22 (2), pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/jfp-09-2019-0041
Using a visually adapted repertory grid technique (VARGT) with people who stalk
Wheatley, R., Winder, B. and Kuss, D.J. 2020. Using a visually adapted repertory grid technique (VARGT) with people who stalk. Journal of Forensic Practice. 22 (2), pp. 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1108/jfp-10-2019-0048
What are the features of psychopathology for men who commit stalking offences? A systematic review
Wheatley, R., Winder, B. and Kuss, D.J. 2020. What are the features of psychopathology for men who commit stalking offences? A systematic review. Aggression and violent behavior. 55, pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2020.101461
‘It’s so Hard to Get Out of that Bubble’. A Phenomenological Analysis with Men Who Have Stalked
Wheatley, R., Winder, B. and Kuss, D. 2020. ‘It’s so Hard to Get Out of that Bubble’. A Phenomenological Analysis with Men Who Have Stalked. Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice. 21 (3), pp. 249-282. https://doi.org/10.1080/24732850.2020.1855385
The Application of the Repertory Grid in Forensic Practice
Kitson-Boyce, R., Wheatley, R. and Blagden, N. 2020. The Application of the Repertory Grid in Forensic Practice. Journal of Constructivist Psychology. 35 (2), pp. 677-698. https://doi.org/10.1080/10720537.2020.1865222