Look Who's Stalking Too
By Catherine Scullion
A recently published study on stalking suggests that modern culture is turning the socially inept into unwelcome pursuers. Presenting his research in the aptly-named book ‘Stalking’, Dr Bran Nicol claims that films, for one, must take some of the blame.
“The plots of innumerable Hollywood films feature men who are initially rejected by a woman only to finally win her over through sheer dogged determination”, Nicol explains. The consideration of love as a powerful, madness inducing force can act “as triggers in the minds of socially inept individuals with stalker potential." Each of us probably has our own view of what constitutes this ‘stalker potential’; Nicol has drawn from the depiction of stalking in various media to reach his conclusions.
Furthermore, it’s possible that relaxation of the boundaries between the socially accepted and universally sneered at is partly to blame for the behaviour. To demonstrate this he uses the example of university life “Lecturers dress as casually as students and are referred to by their first name, but at certain points such as marking essays and enforcing university regulations they must draw back and occupy a position of punitive authority.” It seems that within an environment with such boundary confusion stalking is easily set off; with the offender no longer able to distinguish between actions which are welcome and those which cause discomfort.
So, we’re all off to go and hang around the Prof’s bins, in the meantime, if you’d like to have a closer look at Bran Nicol’s tome then click here.
To find out more about Catherine or read her other articles click here.
“The plots of innumerable Hollywood films feature men who are initially rejected by a woman only to finally win her over through sheer dogged determination”, Nicol explains. The consideration of love as a powerful, madness inducing force can act “as triggers in the minds of socially inept individuals with stalker potential." Each of us probably has our own view of what constitutes this ‘stalker potential’; Nicol has drawn from the depiction of stalking in various media to reach his conclusions.
Furthermore, it’s possible that relaxation of the boundaries between the socially accepted and universally sneered at is partly to blame for the behaviour. To demonstrate this he uses the example of university life “Lecturers dress as casually as students and are referred to by their first name, but at certain points such as marking essays and enforcing university regulations they must draw back and occupy a position of punitive authority.” It seems that within an environment with such boundary confusion stalking is easily set off; with the offender no longer able to distinguish between actions which are welcome and those which cause discomfort.
So, we’re all off to go and hang around the Prof’s bins, in the meantime, if you’d like to have a closer look at Bran Nicol’s tome then click here.
To find out more about Catherine or read her other articles click here.
Image: Denise Yap
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