Following a person, calling them on the phone, sending them gifts, letters or messages, are behaviors that, seen in isolation, do not contain criminal connotations nor do they imply any crime, but what happens when someone decides to focus them on a single person and carry them out in a specific way? repeatedly, making her, at times, fear for her life?
This is the case of stalking or pressing harassment syndrome
Although there is still no scientifically established definition for this phenomenon, a series of characteristics can be found that the authors agree to mention. According to them, this syndrome describes a pattern in which the affected person (stalker), which can be either a man or a woman, obsessively and persistently pursues a victim, without the latter’s refusals making him change his mind
The stalker uses all types of means to approach the victim, phone calls, text messages, emails, letters, writes her name in public places, sends her gifts, spies on her in her home, follows her and harassment on the street or in your workplace, in public spaces, etc. In the most serious cases, the victim may receive threats, see their Internet accounts hacked (both public profiles and emails) and/or suffer some type of violent crime.
The effects of stalking on the harassed person
It is not surprising, therefore, that The person who suffers this continuous harassment presents symptoms of anxiety, insecurity and fear In addition, there is continuous fear for their physical integrity and feelings of persecution and destabilization.
For these reasons, they are often forced to change their daily habits, their telephone number and, sometimes, even their work and home.
Psychological profile of the stalker
Who can become a victim of persistent bullying syndrome? The answer to this question is still disturbing, since anyone can be affected and be a victim of this type of harassment. It would be logical to think that this type of behavior only occurs in people who have previously had some type of romantic relationship, but the reality is that they can also occur with friends, neighbors, co-workers, or even with a stranger. Therefore, apparently, it is not necessary that a degree of intimacy between the victim and the stalker has previously existed.
From psychology, an attempt is made to explain the causes that motivate the behavior of stalkers Some authors affirm that behind their behaviors there are feelings of anger, hostility, obsession, feelings of guilt or jealousy and malice. These feelings are what have led to a classification being made based on which feeling predominates in each harasser.
Extreme harassment in the Spanish Penal Code
Despite the serious repercussions that this type of behavior can have for the victim, Until relatively recently, there was no law in Spain that regulated this type of harassment
It is not until the entry into force of Organic Law 1/2015 of March 30, which modifies the previous Organic Law 10/1995 of the Penal Code, that stalking begins to be valued as a crime that threatens the freedom of action of the person and which can carry a prison sentence of between three months and two years or fines ranging from six to twenty-four months, “increasing the penalty if the victim is especially vulnerable due to his age, illness or situation.”
