Cyberstalking Victims’ Experiences With Fear Versus Other Emotional Responses to Repeated Online Pursuit: Revisiting the Fear Standard Among a National Sample of Young Adults

Abstract

This study empirically examines situational and personal characteristics associated with victims’ responses to cyberstalking. In the context of these responses, there has been much debate regarding the “fear standard,” which requires victims or reasonable persons to feel fearful as a result of stalking. To examine victim responses to cyberstalking, survey data were collected from 880 young adults in the U.S. who were repeatedly pursued online (cyberstalked) within the previous year. Findings revealed that the majority (67.84%) of respondents did not feel fear in response to the repeated online pursuit. However, approximately half (50.23%) did experience a substantial (non-fear) emotional response. Multivariate findings identified situational and victim characteristics that impacted the reactions experienced, and these effects varied by type of reaction. The results indicate that definitions requiring fear underestimate the prevalence of cyberstalking.

Testing the Target Congruence Approach: Do Vulnerability, Gratifiability, and Antagonism Explain Cyberstalking Victimization Among Young Adults?

“…Based on these findings alone, we cannot argue that college student versus general sample impacts the estimate of prevalence of cyberstalking victimization. However, given the ongoing debate among stalking and cyberstalking scholars related to the fear criterion (see, e.g., Dietz & Martin, 2007; Fissel et al, 2022; Pereira & Matos, 2016), we believe that the prevalence estimate found in the current study is more reflective of the true extent of cyberstalking victimization and establishes a benchmark for future studies that is based on a definition more closely aligned with NCVS’ definition of stalking and cyberstalking.…”

“…Again, the nature of the effects was consistent with target congruence expectations. Identifying as a woman, posting flirty content, and engaging in sexually explicit messaging would be likely deemed “gratifiable” to the prototypical cyberstalker (heterosexual male interested in a romantic relationship), thus increasing risk for cyberstalking victimization (e.g., Baum et al, 2009; Boillot-Fansher, 2017; Fisher et al, 2014; Fissel et al, 2022). While speculative, those who identify as another gender may be at an increased risk of cyberstalking victimization because this is a characteristic that may not be easily ascertained online.…”

Is It a Crime? Cyberstalking Victims’ Reasons for Not Reporting to Law Enforcement

“…This excludes contact from solicitors, debt collectors, and other salespeople. This definition is drawn from (cyber)stalking statutes (e.g., Illinois' Cyberstalking Law) and is consistent with previous literature (e.g., Fissel et al 2022;Morgan and Truman 2022). Respondents answered a series of questions to determine if their experiences met the criteria to be considered cyberstalking victims within the previous 12 months.…”