| The problem. As technology advances and society is increasingly reliant on computers, there is the need to differentiate and understand offenses/motives of cyberstalkers. One purpose of this study was to describe and define the behavioral tactics, technological tactics, diagnostic indicators/attributions, and motives that differentiate cyberstalkers and terrestrial stalkers. A second purpose was to use psychological characteristics, motives, and behaviors to reliably categorize individuals as either cyberstalkers or terrestrial stalkers.; Method. Each of 20 randomly selected stalking cases filed with the District Attorney's Office in San Diego were classified by 3 raters as being a cyberstalker or terrestrial stalker. Raters had been previously trained to use a set of operationally defined variables to classify cases. Chi-square contingency table analyses determined which variables were most helpful in classifying stalkers, and Cohen's Kappa evaluated the interrater reliability of classification.; Results. Results indicated that a number of attributes and behaviors differed significantly between cyberstalkers and terrestrial stalkers. Cyberstalkers had young victims; were technologically sophisticated; used pornography and other obscene materials to communicate with their victims; were above average in intelligence and well educated; had multiple victims unknown to them and unknown to their victims; devoted considerable time to fantasy and self-gratification; remained anonymous; had brief stalking careers; sought excitement through virtual reality; engaged in interstate stalking; had an Internet addiction; had no history of criminality, substance abuse, or restraining orders; and were either employed or were college students.; Based upon results of this study, it can be concluded that cyberstalking is not merely an extension of terrestrial stalking, but a qualitatively distinct stalker type. This information will be useful for treating cyberstalkers and their victims, for determining the intensity of threat/dangerousness for mental health professionals and law enforcement agencies, and for providing a foundation for subsequent research. Even more useful information could be provided by subsequent studies utilizing data from face-to-face interviews instead of from justice system archives, permitting a finer analysis of the behavioral and technological tactics, diagnostic indicators and attributions, and motives of cyberstalkers to help in their identification and prosecution. |
