Types, Frequency, and Effectiveness of Responses to Unwanted Pursuit and Stalking

Abstract

This study investigated the types, frequency, and effectiveness of responses to unwanted pursuit (UP) and stalking after relationship termination. Participants included female and male college students who were either pursued by a former partner or who pursued an ex-partner. Factor analyses of targets’ responses to pursuit yielded four factors, similar to Cupach and Spitzberg’s (2004) proposed response types. Targets reported engaging in Avoidance/ Minimization and Support-Seeking responses more often than Approach or Assertion/Aggression, and Approach more often than Assertion/Aggression; pursuers reported that targets engaged in Common Responses more often than Assertion/Aggression responses. Generally, targets rated more assertive but less frequently used responses such as “took legal action” or “made geographic change” as most effective, whereas pursuers rated threats and assertive or aggressive verbal confrontations as most effective. Analysis of qualitative data indicate that a combination of target avoidance and the passage of time provides an opportunity for the pursuer to move on from the relationship, which results in the cessation of UP. Implications for stalking prevention and intervention are discussed.