Why do stalkers stalk?

Stalkers often emphasize that they “love” their victims and often see them as possessions who are “rightfully” theirs, stalkers tend to fixate over celebrities, ex-lovers, or just strangers or acquaintances that they see on the street. Or in some cases on social media platforms and tend to verbally abuse the victim on social media apps, or by physically following them around and harassing them. 

Erotomania 

Erotomania is a real, rare mental health condition which causes a person with erotomania to have a delusional belief that another person is in love with him or her despite clear evidence against it. The other person may be a celebrity, wealthy or of a high social position. The condition is also known as De Clérambault’s syndrome. 

This fixation on being loved by the other person is considered delusional because it’s not based in reality. In most cases, the person hasn’t even met the person they’re fixated on. Some people with this syndrome may believe that a stranger they’ve just met is in love with them.  

They may find it impossible to give up their belief that the other person loves them, despite a lack of evidence that this is true. Erotomania can be associated with other mental health conditions that involve delusions, manic behaviors or psychiatric illness, including  schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, major depressive disorder with psychotic features, bipolar disorder, or Alzheimer's disease. 

                                        

A person with this condition may believe that the other person is attempting to send them secret messages. They can believe this is happening through the news or thoughts (also called telepathy). 

Most stalkers or sufferers of Erotomania spam the person they're fixated on verbally on social media, or go to lengths including breaking and entering, harassment, vandalism, attempted murder or suicide and many others. 

Cyberstalking is a criminal offense under American anti-stalking, slander, and harassment laws. A conviction can result in a restraining order, probation, or criminal penalties against the assailant, including jail. Cyberstalking specifically has been addressed in recent U.S. federal law. 

(Cyberstalking is the use of the internet or other electronic means to stalk or harass an individual. It may include false accusations, monitoring, identity theft, threats, solicitation for sex or gathering information that may be used to threaten or harass.)

Symptoms 

Common symptoms include: 

• obsessively consuming media related to the other person if they are a celebrity or public figure. 
• constantly sending letters, emails, or gifts to the other person. 
• persistently making phone calls to the other person. 
• being convinced that the other person is trying to secretly communicate through glances, gestures, or coded messages in the news, television shows, movies, or social media. 
• creating elaborate but false situations in which the other person is pursuing them, stalking them, or trying to get in touch with them. 
• feeling jealous due to a belief that the other person may be in contact with other “lovers” or may not be faithful. 
• harassing the other person in public, sometimes to the point of being reprimanded or arrested by law enforcement. 
• losing interest in activities other than talking about the other person or doing activities related to them.